The Senate of the Philippines on Tuesday officially issued an arrest order against Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) controversial leader Apollo Quiboloy.
This comes after Senate President Juan Miguel ‘Migz’ Zubiri signed the order against Quiboloy for “unduly refusing to appear, despite due notices" the hearings of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality.
"The Sergeant-at-Arms is hereby directed to carry out and implement this Order and make return hereof within 24 hours from its enforcement," the order said.
"Upon the motion of the undersigned Chairperson, and seconded by Senator Aquilino Pimentel III, during the March 5, 2024 hearing, hereby cites Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy in contempt of the Committee, and of the Senate, and ordered arrested and detained at the Office of Sergeant-at-Arms until such time that he will appear and testify in the Committee, or otherwise purges himself of that contempt."
The order comes a day after Senator Risa Hontiveros, the chairman of the committee that leads the investigation against the KOJC leader, said that the Senate panel found that Quiboloy's response to the Senate's show cause order is "nowhere near satisfactory."
Quiboloy's camp has yet to release a statement over the matter, as of posting.
In a 19-page compliance and legal justification, Quiboloy enumerated three reasons on why he should not be ordered arrested and detained at the Office of the Sergeant-At-Arms.
1. The ongoing Senate investigation compelling the appearance of Quiboloy to testify over his alleged commission of grave crimes is not in aid of legislation but is tantamount to the usurpation of judicial functions beyond the powers of the Senate.
2. P.S. Resolution No. 884 is brazenly incriminatory as it categorically declares the guilt of Pastor Quiboloy for crimes being attributed to him, totally disregarding the constitutional presumption of innocence until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
3. The refusal of Quiboloy to appear “is not a sign of disrespect to the honorable Senate nor a disregard of its powers and functions but is purely based on the fact that the criminal accusations against him can only be legitimately settled before the competent courts.
In a statement, Zubiri maintained that the decision to issue an arrest order was based on the committee's decision.
"We maintain that this is a committee matter...the chairperson, Senator Risa Hontiveros, found no merit in the explanation of Pastor Quiboloy and has ruled to deny the reliefs prayed for and to issue the order of arrest," Zubiri said.
"Pursuant to our duly published Rules Governing Inquiries in Aid of Legislation and the Rules of the Senate, it is ministerial for me to sign the order of arrest. We are signing the order to protect our committee system, to preserve the Senate's power of inquiry with process to enforce it."
According to Zubiri, there will be no need to order Quiboloy's arrest if he appears in the next hearing and purge himself of contempt.
"We reiterate that the purpose of the order of arrest is not to punish but to make the inquiry potent and compelling," he stressed.
