Imee Marcos bucks Senate subpoena vs Quiboloy

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Imee Marcos has thumbed down the plan of some of her Senate colleagues to issue a subpoena order against religious leader and alleged sex offender Apollo Quiboloy.

“Eh nagulat nga ako may mga member nga ng Senado, may mga senador, na nagpupumiglas na kailangan eh i-subpoena na si Pastor. Para sa akin, hindi dapat,” said Marcos in a phone patch interview on Friday.

(I was surprised that there are members of the Senate, there are senators who are pushing for Quiboloy to be subpoenaed. For me, he shouldn’t be.)

Marcos said she was “shocked” by the decision, believing that the Senate should “slow down” because there are “many more issues” surrounding the Quiboloy-led Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI).

As to why she disagreed, Marcos’ only reason was that the House hearing on SMNI was still ongoing.

“Parang masyado nang patong-patong ‘to, mahihilo na tayo. Dapat isa-isahin para maliwanagan tayo sa lahat ng issue,” she said.

(It seems like it’s all stacking up on each other, we’re going to get dizzy. It should be one by one  so that we are clear on all the issues.)

But for Senator Risa Hontiveros, who is leading the Senate’s probe on Quiboloy’s alleged crimes, it was vital for Quiboloy to appear before the chamber, noting the grievance of the testimonies aired by some of his supposed victims.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, on the other hand, has committed to signing the subpoena order against Quiboloy once he returns to Manila. 

He said he wasn’t able to sign the order right away due to the conflict between the House and the Senate following a bid for a fake signature campaign for Charter change.

READ: Senate, House clash over people’s initiative for Charter change