Hontiveros presses Quiboloy over forced ‘tithes’ from members

Sen. Risa Hontiveros (File photo by NIÑO JESUS ORBETA / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — Apart from allegations of human trafficking and sexual abuses, televangelist Apollo Quiboloy should also be held accountable for accusations that he had “forcibly taken” the salaries of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) as donations to himself and his religious group, Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC), according to Sen. Risa Hontiveros.

Hontiveros also urged her colleagues in the Senate to listen to more stories of the alleged victims of Quiboloy.

“More and more victim-survivors have reached out to my office to share the horrific abuses they experienced as members of KOJC. I call on my colleagues in the Senate to actually listen to these victim-survivors,” said Hontiveros, chair of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, which has been investigating alleged abuses committed by Quiboloy.

“I’m sure that if they hear the experiences of the former members of Quiboloy, they would not hesitate to stand up for justice,” she added.

During the recent hearing, the senator presented Reynita Fernandez, an OFW based in Singapore, who divulged that she and other domestic workers were pressured and harassed into giving 90 percent of their salaries to the KJC leader.

“Many OFWs worked day and night, but their hard-earned salaries, instead of going to their families, went to Quiboloy. And they were not only deprived of their salaries, they were even asked to sell things just so they can be able to remit money, not to their families, but to the ‘Kingdom,’” Hontiveros said.

“We call our OFWs our modern-day heroes, yet we are failing to protect them from fraudsters like Quiboloy. I hope the Senate will be united in giving our fellow Filipinos justice,” the senator added.

READ: DOJ orders multiple raps to be filed vs Quiboloy

Hontiveros, backed by Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, has cited the KJC leader in contempt because of failing to show up even after a subpoena was issued. But this was blocked by Sen. Robinhood Padilla, who also convinced Senators Cynthia Villar, Imee Marcos, and Bong Go, to join him in opposing the Senate panel’s move.

Right to remain silent

Based on Senate rules, Padilla has seven days or until March 12, to gather eight votes among the committee’s 14 members to reverse the motion.

Quiboloy’s counsel, through a letter, also said that his client refuses to honor the subpoena as he is invoking his right against self-incrimination.

The invocation of the right against self-incrimination must be made by a witness actually present and on a per-question basis, according to Hontiveros.

“This has been settled by the Supreme Court. In other words, Quiboloy still has to appear before the Senate. The accusations against him are very serious, but he still hasn’t shown up. Why is he hiding? Why is he so afraid? Is he afraid that he will not be able to properly defend himself from those who are accusing him?” she asked.

Why protect him?

The House of Representatives also requires Quiboloy’s presence on March 12 before the committee on legislative franchises, which is investigating the KJC-owned Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) for alleged violations of the terms of its franchise. Quiboloy has also snubbed previous House hearings.

The televangelist has been indicted by a federal grand jury in California for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud, coercion, sex trafficking of children, conspiracy, and bulk cash smuggling. Warrants for his arrest were issued in November 2021.

In an order issued on March 1, Central District of California Judge Terry Hatter Jr. ordered the warrants unsealed, which means the details of the charges or the reasons for the warrants were being made available to the public.

Apollo Quiboloy–Photo from the Official Page of Senator Bong Go

The Department of Justice also ordered earlier the filing of sexual abuse and qualified human trafficking cases against Quiboloy, as it granted the petition for review filed by the complainant, a former KJC follower who claimed he had raped her.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said he also signed an immigration lookout bulletin against Quiboloy — promoted by the sect as the “Appointed Son of God.”

Several groups in the Philippines are also calling on senators to fully support the investigation of alleged sex trafficking and other abuses by Quiboloy.

The Movement Against Tyranny (MAT) and Babae Para Sa Inang Bayan issued statements to hold Quiboloy accountable for the sex trafficking of women and girls, including minors.

“Quiboloy’s cowardly no-show at the Senate hearing further confirms his possible guilt. And now, the looming extradition by a US court for his criminal cases is more than just enough to make him accountable for his criminal acts against women and children,” MAT said on Friday.