Senator Robin Padilla said Apollo Quiboloy—who is wanted by the US Federal for sex trafficking by force, fraud, coercion, sex trafficking of children, conspiracy, and cash smuggling—is a “hero.”
Padilla said the founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ should be praised for fighting the New People’s Army.
“Where’s the debt of gratitude to this person’s services offered to fight communists?” the senator said.
Padilla said that was his “personal reason” for opposing the contempt charge and arrest warrant issued by the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality headed by Senator Risa Hontiveros against Quiboloy.
The Department of Justice is also set to file criminal charges against the religious leader for sexual abuse of a minor under Section 5(b) of Republic Act (RA) 7610, also known as the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act, which he allegedly committed in 2011 against a female who was 17 years old then.
Padilla recalled that Quiboloy previously lent him a “jet” because “he believes that I will be the instrument of God to change our country. “
“Perhaps, he lent me the jet because he believes in my advocacy,” he added.