Senator Robin Padilla is currently gathering signatures to oppose the recent decision of Senator Risa Honiveros' committee to cite Apollo Quiboloy for contempt for repeatedly rejecting the Senate's invitation to investigate his alleged crimes involving his religious group.
In a press conference on Thursday, March 7, Padilla stressed that Quiboloy does not deserve to be arrested as it once fought against the country's communists or the New People's Army (NPA).
"Meron akong sariling dahilan. Ang sarili kong dahilan para sa akin, nagiging biktima si Pastor kasi nilabanan niya yung NPA. 'Di deserve para sa nga mata ko na ang isang tao na tingin ko'y bayani sa pakikipaglaban niya sa komunista, na naging kasama ko, ganitong klase papayagan ko, maiskandalo?" said Padilla.
He then stressed that his move had nothing to do with his friendship with Quiboloy.
"Teka muna. Nasaan ang utang na loob natin sa serbisyo ng taong ito na inalay niya sa paglaban sa komunista? Hindi ito usapin ng pakikipagkaibigan, kasama ko itong taong ito. Noong lahat na tahimik lumaba, lumaban 'yan. deserve niya ang aking suporta," he said.
Five senators had already signed Padilla's petition: Senators JV Ejercito, Bong Go, Imee Marcos, Cynthia Villar, and Padilla himself.
Sen. Villar expressed her reason by saying that Quiboloy is on good terms with her family.
"Kaibigan ko si Pastor Quiboloy. Mabait siya sa aming pamilya. Nagtataka ako sa case na 'yan, kaya medyo hindi ako masyado naniniwala sa case na 'yan," the Senator said.
"Pag may affair 'yung kanilang church iniimbita niya ako. Hindi ko na siya kailangan sa eleksyon kasi kaibigan ko siya," she added.
According to Sen. Marcos, one of the reasons why Quiboloy doesn't deserve to be cited for contempt is due to the pastor's pending case in Congress, adding that it has the right to due process.
"Maraming dahilan at isa na doon ay yung pending na kaso sa Congress, ayaw naman natin na kinukuyog ang mga tao. They have the right to due process. They have the right to defend themselves against self-incrimination," she noted.
However, Hontiveros, who led the Senate panel on Tuesday, March 5, said that the power of the Senate to conduct an investigation would become voidable and allow witnesses to claim that appearing before a committee would violate his constitutional right to be presumed innocent and his right against self-incrimination.
Meanwhile, Sen. Ejercito retracted his opposition, saying that the "serious allegations of rape" during the last committee hearing and the Department of Justice's filing of sexual abuse and qualified trafficking charge made him decide to withdraw his signature.
It can be recalled from Tuesday, March 5, when Padilla expressed his objection after Sen. Hontiveros announced the citing of contempt for the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader.
Hontiveros, however, said that the majority of members of the committee can make formal objections to the matter within seven days.
