Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday, March 11, slammed Pastor Apollo Quiboloy for setting 17 conditions to attend her panel's probe into the alleged abuses and violence in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.
"Pupunta ako sa hearing pero sa labing pitong kondisyon. First time ko makarinig ng ganito, sa totoo lang. Dinaig pa ni Quiboloy ang sampung utos ng Diyos. Ang masasabi ko lang diyan, bakit ang Senado ang mag a-adjust sa kaniya?" she underscored during a press conference.
"The Senate will not bend its rules and procedures for you even if you are, you say, self-appointed son of God. Hindi kami para utusan mo. You will not mock the system of checks and balances under our watch. And this is not up for debate," Hontiveros continued.
The senator pointed out that Quiboloy have been wasting the time and opportunity to respond to the accusations he is facing.
"Imbes na pinandigan sana ni Quiboloy ang pag astang hambog, nagpakita na lang sana siya sa Senado, nagbigay ng statement on record ukol sa mga bintang laban sa kaniya. Napakarami na niyang sinayang na oras at pagkakataon," she stressed.
A copy of Quiboloy's 17 conditions to attend the Senate probe was posted by Filipino vlogger Boss Dada TV on his official Facebook page on Sunday, March 10.
Among the conditions he set was the unveiling of the faces and identities of the victim-survivors who gave their testimonies before the Senate panel and to allow him to cross-examine the victim-survivors without a time limit. He also demanded to know the amount that Hontiveros allegedly paid to the witnesses.
Quiboloy asked the senator to authorize him to be accompanied by 50 security personnel in the Senate, let him answer necessary questions under his discretion without time restriction, and bring his witnesses who will testify against the Hontiveros' witnesses.
Moreover, the religious pastor want the opposition senator to pay "all expenses incurred from this trip including private jet flight back and forth, food according to my dietary requirements, and fees for accommodation in a five-star hotel for me and my party."
Meanwhile, Hontiveros mentioned that their contempt order against Quiboloy might take effect if there are only four senators who objected to the issuance.
"Kung bukas [March 12] ay hindi umabot sa apat ngayon papunta sa walong kailangan, ibigsabihin mags-stand yung pag-cite ko ng contempt kay Quiboloy at ifo-follow up ko kay SP [Senate President Miguel Zubiri] na ipaaresto na siya para dalhin dito para sa wakas ay humarap na sa Senado at sumagot na sa mga tanong sa kaniya," he said.
Four senators have signed the letter opposing the contempt citation to Quiboloy. These are Senators Christopher 'Bong' Go, Imee Marcos, Cynthia Villar, and Robinhood 'Robin' Padilla who initiated the objection letter.
