Padilla: Quiboloy must not testify in Senate once DOJ starts legal proceedings

Senator Robin Padilla 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 testify in its investigations once the Department of Justice (DOJ) starts its legal proceedings.

Padilla made the formal request in a letter to Senator Risa Hontiveros, the chairperson of the Senate panel, dated March 11– a copy of which was shared to the media on Wednesday.

He mentioned the DOJ's order to direct the filing of criminal cases against Quiboloy last March 4.

Padilla then cited as precedent the 1991 Supreme Court decision on Bengzon Jr. v. 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 said in his letter.

The Senate panel is investigating the alleged human trafficking and sexual abuses raised against Quiboloy.

During the last week's hearing of the panel, 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.

But the ruling was objected to by Padilla.

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."

With this, Padilla tried to gather the support of the majority or eight of the 14 members of the Senate panel.

But after the time period provided under the Senate rules had expired, Padilla was only able to gather the support of five members including himself. The other senators who objected to the issuance of a contempt order against Quiboloy were Senators Imee Marcos, Cynthia Villar, Mark Villar, and Bong Go.

Senator JV Ejercito initially signed, then withdrew his signature, citing the "serious allegations of rape" made against Quiboloy.

Last Monday or the day before the deadline to gather the support of the majority of the Senate panel members to block Quiboloy's arrest, Padilla delivered a privilege speech appealing to the Senate committee to issue a show cause order against the KOJC leader and reconsider the contempt order.

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 on 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.—RF, GMA Integrated News