Hontiveros not keen on allowing Quiboloy to attend Senate probe virtually

Senator Risa Hontiveros is not keen on the idea of allowing Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Apollo Quiboloy to virtually attend the Senate investigation into the alleged sexual abuses and human trafficking cases in his religious group.

Hontiveros, who leads the probe as chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality, cited as precedent the decision of another Senate committee that investigated the assassination of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo to deny the request of the main suspect, Negros Oriental Rep. Arnie Teves to attend the inquiry via teleconference.

"Hindi po pinayagan si Rep. Teves na mag-virtual kasi pag mag-sinungaling siya o sumagot siya evasively o umiwas siyang sumagot ‘pag virtual o paano ang remedy...Siguro nakita nung komite na dumidinig noon tungkol sa kaso ni Teves na mababawasan, hihina ang kapangyarihan ng Senado kung papayagan nilang mag-appear yang isang pinaka-importanteng resource person nila na virtual lamang. So baka ito yung maging precedent ko rin," she said.

(Rep. Teves was not allowed to attend virtually because if he lied, answered evasively or avoided responding then what is the remedy… Perhaps the committee conducting the hearing of Teves’ case saw that the power of the Senate would weaken if it allowed very important resource persons to appear only virtually. So this might set a precedent as well.) 

Hontiveros also said that Quiboloy should show his intention to honor the subpoena that was issued by the Senate before asking for any mode of appearing before the committee.

"Kung may balak siyang humingi pa ng ibang mode ng pagharap, first things first, sabihin muna niya na balak niyang i-honor yung subpoena," she said.

(If he is planning to ask for a different mode in making an appearance, first things first, he should first inform his intention to honor the subpoena.)

As the time for Senator Robin Padilla to gather signatures to block Quiboloy's arrest draws near, Hontiveros renewed her appeal to the members of the committee that she is leading to review the testimonies of the resource persons who shared the abuses allegedly made by the KOJC leader.

"Of course, I respect the prerogatives of my fellow senators, pero may kaunting oras pa naman para ma-review nila ang mga testimonya ng mga witness sa ating mga hearings, lalo na yung mga kababaihan. Syempre, hopeful pa rin ako na maitataguyod natin ang mga prinsipyo ng  transparency, accountability, at moral responsibility," she said.

(But there is still time for my fellow senators to review the testimony of the witnesses at our hearings, especially the women. Of course, I am hopeful we can  uphold the principles of transparency, accountability and moral responsibility.)

So far, there are four senators who signed the written objection on the contempt order that was ordered by the Senate panel, namely Padilla, Imee Marcos, Cynthia Villar and Bong Go.

During the continuation of the Senate panel's investigation last Tuesday, Hontiveros cited Quiboloy in contempt after the religious leader repeatedly ignored the subpoena issued by the Senate as he invoked his right to due process.

Minutes after the Senate panel decided on Quiboloy's arrest, Padilla raised his objection to the ruling.

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."

The Senate committee has 14 members, which means Padilla would need to get the support of eight senators to block the issuance of the arrest warrant. Padilla has until tomorrow to get enough signatures.

If the attempt to reverse the contempt order fails, Hontiveros said she will follow up the issuance of an arrest warrant with Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri.

Amid doubts on the Senate investigation that she leads, Hontiveros maintained that the probe is still in aid of legislation.

She explained that the probe is intended to check and fill the gaps on the laws against sexual abuses "within secretive religious organizations," the inability of the labor laws to address voluntary labor arrangements, and the interaction of the anti-trafficking laws with the constitutional principle of religious freedom.

"Kung mamarapatin lang pansinin ng aking mga kasama at least tatlo na at seryoso ang mga batas at posibleng gaps sa ating batas na nako-cover na sa mga lumalabas na findings namin tungkol kay Pastor Quiboloy," she said.

(If my colleagues would only turn their attention there are at least three serious violations of the law and possible gaps in our legislation that has been covered in our findings pertaining to Pastor Quiboloy.)

Quiboloy's actions so far

Meanwhile, Hontiveros said that the designation of former President Rodrigo Duterte as administrator of the properties of KOJC only shows that his interests are "intertwined" with Quiboloy.

"Ganon kataas, kalaki ang pagtitiwala at pagsasakamay ni Quiboloy kay Duterte sa kanyang mga ari-arian. May kasabihan pa nga ‘di ba, tell me who your friends are and I'll tell you who you are," she said.

(This is how high the level of trust that Quiboloy has that he would hand over to Duterte his property. There is a saying,tell me who your friends are and I'll tell you who you are.)

This move also adds to the speculations that Quiboloy is fleeing the Philippines, she added.

"Lalong kumakalat yung haka-haka na naghahanda siya, si Quiboloy, na tumakas dito sa Pilipinas. Kaya inuulit ko po ang aking panawagan sa Bureau of Immigration na siguruhin na sa lahat ng borders ng ating bansa, sa lahat ng mga ports of exit ay hindi makatakas si Quiboloy," she said.

(It only strengthens rumors that Quiboloy is preparing to flee the Philippines. I am repeating my call to the Bureau of Immigration to make sure to secure the country’s borders, all ports of exit to prevent Quiboloy from escaping.)

Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, Quiboloy's legal counsel, denied that assigning Duterte as administrator of KOJC properties is part of the preparation for the religious leader to leave the country.

"No, because this is a part of a process whereby the pastor is merely concentrating on the spiritual aspect of Kingdom of Jesus Christ," Topacio said in a phone interview with reporters.

He bared that this process had already started four years ago and even before the charges in the United States were filed and the hearings in the Senate were conducted.

"As early as that time or four years ago, Pastor Quiboloy [has] already relinquished his position as executive pastor of KOJC and has appointed Pastor Marlon Ocabo as the executive pastor, and even with the respect to SMNI," he said.

Topacio also explained why KOJC has chosen Duterte as the administrator of its properties.

"He is a seasoned lawyer, he has legal expertise on the matter and of course as a former president, he brings the necessary gravitas and high level of prestige to his function as an administrator," Topacio said.

He likewise refuted Hontiveros' remark that Duterte and Quiboloy's economic interests are intertwined.

"We emphatically, categorically and vehemently deny that," he said.—RF, GMA Integrated News