Robin Padilla to Quiboloy: Bring case to SC

For Senator Robin Padilla, a petition before the Supreme Court could be a legal alternative for Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Apollo Quiboloy to appeal the arrest order issued by the Senate.

Padilla made the statement after the Senate pushed through with the issuance of an arrest order against the religious leader despite his attempt to block it.

"Ginawa po ng opisina ko ang lahat ng nasa rules at procedure ng Senate para mapangalagaan ang karapatan ni [P]astor [Q]uiboloy. Nagdesisyon na po ang chairman ng komite at inaksyunan na rin po ni [Senate President] Zubiri ang pag-issue ng warrant of arrest," Padilla said in a text message to reporters.

"Ang nakikita ko po na legal na alternatibo para kay [P]astor [Q]uiboloy ay idulog po ito sa Supreme Court," he added.

(Our office did everything we can under the rules and procedures of the Senate to protect the rights of Pastor Quiboloy. The chairman of the committee has already decided and the Senate President has already acted on the issuance of the arrest order. The only legal alternative that I see is for Pastor Quiboloy to appeal this at the Supreme Court.)

On Tuesday, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri signed an arrest order against the religious leader for "unduly refusing to appear, despite due notices" at the hearings of the Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality.

This, after the Senate panel, chaired by Senator Risa Hontiveros, found Quiboloy's response to the show cause order, which urged the KOJC leader to explain why the Senate should not cite him in contempt, "nowhere near satisfactory."

Meanwhile, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa offered himself to be the “security” of Quiboloy if the latter decides to appear before the Senate and answer the allegations against him. 

“Kung takot siya, takot siya na under threat ‘yung buhay niya, I can be his security. I can secure him while he's in the Senate. I can offer myself as his security kung pupunta siya dito, just for him to be physically present in the hearing. Pero kung ayaw niya, the final decision is with him,” Dela Rosa said in a press conference. 

“That would be an insult to the institution kung hindi siya ma-secure. So I, being a senator and  a member of this Senate, I'm willing to provide him security. Ako mismo, punta ka dito, tingnan natin kung may babaril s'yo,” the senator, who said he’s friends with Quiboloy, added. 

However, Dela Rosa said he will not “go towards the extent” of taking custody of Quiboloy. 

He also expressed willingness to help the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms in serving the arrest order to Quiboloy to avoid any possible confrontation. 

Reacting to the decision to order Quiboloy’s arrest, Dela Rosa said he is against it but the rules of the chamber should be respected. 

“Kahit na labag sa kalooban ko, I, personally, kahit hindi ako member ng committee...pero personally, pinapaalam ko na mabigat sa kalooban ko. Isa ako sa mga senador ayaw, kung pwede sana hindi makulong si Pastor dito, because we have some reasons,” Dela Rosa said. 

“Anyway, at the end of the day, we are legislators, we are lawmakers. So we don’t have to be lawbreakers. Susundin natin ‘yung rules of the Senate,” he added.

In an interview, Senate Sergeant-at-Arms retired Lt. Gen. Roberto Ancan said Quiboloy can be arrested anytime and they will coordinate with the Philippine National Police.

The detention center inside the Senate building is already prepared for the religious leader's possible arrest, he added.

Should Quiboloy be arrested, Ancan said only his legal counsel and immediate family can visit him at the Senate.

Responding to the arrest order, Quiboloy's lawyer Melanio Balayan told GMA News Online, "We respect the decision of the Senate but Pastor Quiboloy shall exhaust all available legal remedies to protect his constitutional rights which should not be trivialized or taken for granted."

In a separate statement Wednesday, Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, also part of Quiboloy's legal team, said they are now looking to the courts to clear the name of the religious leader.

"All the matters pending before the House of Representatives, the Philippine Senate and the Department of Justice involving or relating to Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy have already reached their respective conclusions therein, and are now either before the courts or may be brought before them,” he said.

“But sadly, there are some powerful individuals who are hell-bent on persecuting him,” he added.

Topacio further said they will no longer comment on issues involving Quiboloy “out of respect to the courts, and we enjoin the others concerned to exhibit some sense of common decency at long last by doing the same.”

"We now place full reliance on the Judiciary as the final nation of the people's rights, confident that the rights of an innocent man such as Pastor Quiboloy will be vindicated,  and his good name finally cleared,” he said.

The House committee on legislative franchises earlier cited Quiboloy in contempt for snubbing the committee’s hearings.

The House also approved on second reading a bill revoking the franchise of Swara Sug Media Corporation for operating SMNI.—with report from Tina Panganiban Perez/AOL, GMA Integrated News