The Senate Committee on Women and Children on Tuesday, March 12, issued a show cause order to Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.
Based on the order, Quiboloy is given a non-extendible period of 48 hours to explain why he "should not be ordered arrested and detained at the Office of the Sergeant-At-Arms."
"The Sergeant-At-Arms is hereby directed to make a return hereof within twenty (24) hours of its enforcement," the order reads.
The show cause order was signed by Senate Committee on Women and Children chairperson Risa Hontiveros and approved by Senate President Juan Miguel 'Migz' Zubiri.
Senator Robinhood 'Robin' Padilla, who considers Quiboloy a "hero", first called for the issuance of a show cause order instead of the contempt order.
For Padilla, the religious pastor should be given "due process."
"Isa po ang ating kahilingan para kay Pastor Apollo Quiboloy - iyon ay ang mabigyan lamang naman natin, hindi po ng kapalit, kundi ng karampatang pagtrato ang naging serbisyo naman po ni Pastor sa ating bayan. Bilang paglilinaw, hindi po niya tinatalikuran ang obligasyong sagutin ang mga paratang sa kanya. Ang nais po niya ay sagutin ito sa tamang espasyo kung saan matatamo niya ang isang patas na pagdinig at paggalang sa kanyang karapatan sa due process" he remarked in his privelege speech.
Last March 5, Senate Committee on Women and Children ordered the arrest of Quiboloy "for his refusal to be sworn or to testify" before the investigation into the reported cases of large-scale human trafficking, rape, sexual abuse, violence, and child abuse in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.
The House Committee on Legislative Franchises has also issued a contempt order to Quiboloy following his repeated non-attendance in the hearings into the Sonshine Media Network International's alleged violation of its franchise.
