Senator Robinhood Padilla has appealed to the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality to stop compelling Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Apollo Quiboloy to appear in the panel’s inquiry once the Department of Justice (DOJ) starts its own legal proceedings.
This developed as the show cause order issued Tuesday night by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri was reportedly received by Quiboloy’s lawyer.
Meanwhile, Parañaque City Rep. Gus Tambunting said Congress has followed due process in citing Quiboloy in contempt and ordering his arrest, having given him enough time to explain his side.
For her part, House Assistant Minority Leader Arlene Brosas lauded the decision of the House Committee on Legislative Franchises to terminate the broadcasting privilege granted to Swara Sug Media Corp., also known as Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI), owned by Quiboloy.
Padilla made the formal request in a letter to Senator Risa Hontiveros, chairperson of the Senate panel, dated March 11 – a copy of which was shared with reporters.
Padilla mentioned the DOJ’s order to direct the filing of criminal cases against Quiboloy last March 4.
He also cited as precedent the 1991 Supreme Court decision on Bengzon Jr. vs. Senate, which stated that Congress “cannot inquire into matters which are within the exclusive province of one of the other branches of the government.”
“In the event that legal proceedings are initiated, this representation trusts that the Committee will take into consideration the principles outlined in the Bengzon ruling and refrain from compelling any testimony from Pastor Quiboloy, as such action may inadvertently influence the judicial process,” Padilla stated in his letter.
The Senate panel is investigating the alleged human trafficking and sexual abuse charges raised against Quiboloy.
During last week’s hearing of the panel, Hontiveros cited Quiboloy in contempt after the controversial televangelist repeatedly ignored the subpoena issued by the Senate for him to appear at the inquiry.
Padilla vigorously objected to the panel’s summons for Quiboloy.
Under Section 18 of the Rules of Procedures Governing Inquiries in Aid of Legislation, “a majority of all the members may… reverse or modify the aforesaid order of contempt within seven days.”
Padilla tried to gather the support of the majority or eight of the 14 members of the Senate panel, but was able to muster only five signatures.
The other senators who objected to the issuance of a contempt order against Quiboloy were Imee Marcos, Cynthia Villar, Mark Villar, and Christopher Go.
Senator JV Ejercito initially signed, but withdrew his signature, citing the “serious allegations of rape” made against Quiboloy.
On Tuesday, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said a show cause order must first be served on Quiboloy before he could sign a contempt order against the KOJC head.
Later in that day, Zubiri and Hontiveros signed the show cause order instructing Quiboloy to explain within a non-extendible period of 48 hours why he should not be ordered arrested and detained at the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms for refusing to attend the committee hearings despite notices.
On Tuesday, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said a show cause order must first be served on Quiboloy before he could sign a contempt order against the KOJC head.
Later that day, Zubiri and Hontiveros signed the show-cause order instructing Quiboloy to explain within a non-extendible period of 48 hours why he should not be ordered arrested and detained for refusing to attend the committee hearings despite notices.
“There has to be some kind of decent answer from Quiboloy. So now, he has been embarking on hiding, giving comments which cannot be understood and imposing conditions unlike any person invited in the Senate,” said Hontiveros.
Tambunting, who chairs the House Committee on Legislative Franchises, was reacting to a call by Vice President Sara Duterte for a “fair trial” for Quiboloy.
The legislative franchise committee has repeatedly invited Quiboloy to its hearings on alleged violations by SMNI of the broadcasting privilege Congress had renewed for 25 years during the Duterte administration. The religious leader never showed up.
At the end of its sixth hearing on Tuesday, the committee cited Quiboloy in contempt for ignoring its invitations multiple times.
The panel also endorsed plenary approval of a bill terminating SMNI’s broadcasting privilege for allegedly violating at least four conditions in its franchise, including the mandate to be fair and accurate in its broadcasting, dispersal of at least 30 percent of its shares of stock to the public, obtaining the permission of Congress for its change of ownership, and the reportorial requirement.
Surigao del Norte Rep. Johnny Pimentel, committee vice chairman, reminded his colleagues that Quiboloy was “already a flight risk and might attempt to escape” since the Senate had earlier cited him in contempt and ordered his arrest.
Brosas stressed that Quiboloy’s absence from the committee hearing showed his refusal to be accountable.
“He even had the guts to request for a substitution as if the hearing is merely a game to him. But for the many victims of SMNI, this is not a game, but a matter of justice and accountability,” Brosas said.