DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 19 March) – Embattled Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy, the self-appointed “Son of God” and founder of Kingdom of Jesus Christ, was ordered arrested by the Senate on Tuesday, March 19, for snubbing committee hearings.
The Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, chaired by Senator Risa Hontiveros, had summoned Quiboloy to attend its investigation on allegations of human trafficking and sexual abuse, but he defied it.
Senate President Miguel “Migz” F. Zubiri signed the arrest order for Quiboloy, who will be detained at the Senate.
Earlier, Hontiveros cited Quiboloy in contempt for his non-appearance during committee hearings on January 23, February 19, and March 5, despite being served with subpoenas, and ordered his arrest.
In a Facebook live, Hontiveros said the arrest order can be enforced anytime and that its issuance is timely as the country observes the National Women’s Month.
Hontiveros thanked Zubiri for signing the arrest order, saying Quiboloy “has no right to trample upon the dignity of the Senate and disrespect it as an institution.”
The order stated that the refusal of Quiboloy, who has been in hiding, to participate in the hearings and for merely sending his counsel to attend on his behalf without justifiable reason allegedly “caused delay, impeded, and obstructed the inquiry into reported violation of human trafficking, rape, sexual abuse and violence, and child abuse.”
She said once arrested, the Senate can schedule the hearings and compel the attendance of Quiboly to answer the allegations hurled against him, including issues of human trafficking and abuse of minors.
She said the Senate was forced to issue the arrest order after Quiboloy defied the subpoenas issued to him in Davao City to attend the previous senate investigations.
Hontiveros said the National Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Immigration have been notified about the arrest order to prevent Quiboloy from escaping the country.
“Wala po akong schedule na umalis ng bansa. Sana si Quiboloy din hindi tumakas kaya nauna na akong nanawagan sa Bureau of Immigration bantayan ang ating mga borders para hindi makatakas si Quiboloy (I have no schedule to leave the country. I hope Quiboloy will not escape. I have notified the Bureau of Immigration to keep watch of our borders so that Quiboloy will not escape),” she said.
The embattled pastor has been ordered arrested and detained “at the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms until such time that he will appear and testify in the Committee, or otherwise purges himself of that contempt,” according to the Senate’s arrest order. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)
