Hontiveros to again push for Quiboloy’s arrest

Senator Risa Hontiveros (R) will again seek an arrest order against Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) founder and alleged sex offender Apollo Quiboloy (L).  Photo from Richard A. Reyes/ Official Page of Senator Bong Go

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Risa Hontiveros will again seek an arrest order against Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) founder and alleged sex offender Apollo Quiboloy.

Hontiveros’ plan was revealed even after Quiboloy’s camp submitted a response to the Senate’s show cause order to explain why the sect leader won’t attend the upper chamber’s probe into his alleged crimes.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri previously said that the Senate would issue an arrest warrant if the upper chamber finds Quiboloy’s camp’s excuse for his absences in the hearing unconvincing.

“I will request the SP (Senate President) to approve the warrant of arrest,” Hontiveros said in a statement Friday. She stressed, however, that Quiboloy’s arrest would be due to his repeated nonattendance to the hearing and not because of the crimes he allegedly committed against former KJC members.

READ: Quiboloy may now be arrested, says House lawmaker

Quiboloy has been snubbing the summonses of Hontiveros’ Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality. The panel had sent invitations to Quiboloy for the January 23, February 19, and March 5 public hearings.

Hontiveros then disclosed that the show cause order on Quiboloy was only issued out of courtesy to Senator Robin Padilla.

“It was a courtesy extended to Sen. Robin (Padilla), at the request of the SP (Senate President). Kung wala nga sa Rules ang show cause order, much less wala sa Rules na kailangan ng hearing in plenary to resolve the show cause order,” the opposition senator said.

READ: Quiboloy still won’t attend Senate’s ‘incriminatory’ probe – lawyer

Quiboloy responded to the Senate’s show cause order on Friday. In his response, he called the Senate resolution that allowed the probe into Quiboloy’s alleged crimes as “incriminatory.”

Hontiveros, however, slammed the sect leader’s “drama.”

“Ang Senado ay hindi hukom. It cannot judge guilt or innocence. The Senate resolution is merely PROPOSED. It binds the institution only when passed in plenary. And even then it cannot be a source of rights, duties or liabilities,” she explained.

“Magpakita na lang si Quiboloy bakit ba ang dami pa niyang drama,” she added.