AMID a standing arrest warrant issued against arrested televangelist Apollo Quiboloy, the Senate is working its way for the local courts to compel him to attend the congressional probe which has long been stalled in view of Quiboloy’s disregard of repeated invitations.
According to Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros, the Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality is dead set on asking courts to issue an order for next week’s Senate probe.
“Itatakda po namin hangga’t maaga ang susunod na pagdinig… Once matakda namin yung petsa, susulat na ako sa nauukol na korte para masigurong andito rin siya bilang pagsunod din sa standing warrant ng Senado para sa kanya,” Hontiveros said.
Quiboloy was earlier arrested after two gruelling weeks of police search inside the 30-hectare KOJC Compound in Buhangin District, Davao City.
“Marami kaming itatanong kay Apollo Quiboloy, kung bakit talaga niya ginawa ang lahat ng ito at paano sinet up na yung mga taong nirecruit niya bilang nananampalataya sa kaniya, at sa kaniyang kingdom ay sa halip inabuso niya sa iba’t ibang paraan,” she added.
Hontiveros in her capacity as panel chair has been conducting a series of hearing since January this year, during which the Senate issued subpoenas for Quiboloy to attend.
However, Quiboloy didn’t show up, compelling the senate committee to issue a warrant for his arrest.
This comes as the Philippine National Police (PNP) admitted that more criminal charges would soon be filed against the embattled pastor by parents of children who were also abused by Quiboloy.
“We are documenting those complaints. Ongoing po ang mga interview at documentation po,” PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said
“Inabuso din daw allegedly,” she added.
Quiboloy, a self-proclaimed “Son of God”, was charged by the US Justice Department in 2021 with sex-trafficking of girls and women aged 12 to 25 to work as personal assistants, or “pastorals”, who were allegedly required to have sex with him.
In June, the Philippine justice department charged Quiboloy with sexual abuse.
Quiboloy and five other defendants have also been charged with qualified human trafficking and other acts of child abuse.
The pastor said women had made up the sex abuse accusations against him because he rejected them. (ANGEL F. JOSE)
