Senate Committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality, chaired by Senator Risa Hontiveros, moved to issue a subpoena against Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy on Tuesday, January 23.

Quiboloy was not present during the Senate committee hearing into the alleged human trafficking, rape, sexual abuse, and violence in KOJC, and only his legal counsel had attended.

His non-attendance pushed Hontiveros to motion for a subpoena.

"Kayo, Pastor, ang dapat humarap sa susunod na pagdinig because you are being subpoenaed by this committee. Hindi po kayo anak ng Diyos na exempt sa awtoridad ng estado," the Senator stressed in her closing statement.

She pointed out that no one even the Supreme Court is excluded in Senate hearings.

"Kahit ang Korte Suprema ay walang kapangyarihan pigilan ang anumang inquiries, ganitong inquiries ng Senado at pag-require sa mga tao na humarap dito. Sinasabi ninyo pastor na marami kayong makapangyarihang kaibigan. But like any ordinary witness, you ofcourse, can invoke the right to self-incrimination," Hontiveros said.

In the said hearing, four victim-survivors, including alias "Amanda" and "Jerome", emotionally shared the alleged physical and sexual abuses they experienced.

In December last year, Hontiveros formally asked Justice Secretary Crispin 'Boying' Remulla to issue an immigration lookout bulletin order against the KOJC leader. However, there is no confirmation yet if the justice department responded to the request.

Quiboloy and two other church members namely, Teresita Tolibas Dandan, and Helen Panilag, are included in the wanted list of the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation. The KOJC leader is facing sex and labor trafficking charges.