Hontiveros urges Senate to issue warrant of arrest for Quiboloy
MANILA, Philippines (Updated March 22, 2024; 7:30 p.m.)— Sen. Risa Hotiveros, chair of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, has called for the Senate to issue a warrant of arrest against doomsday preacher Apollo Quiboloy following his response to the show-cause order.
This came after Quiboloy’s camp, through his lawyer Melanio Balayan, submitted his response to the summons on Friday, arguing that the preacher's appearance at the Senate probe would violate his constitutional rights.
On March 13, Hontiveros, issued a show-cause order, directing Quiboloy to explain within a non-extendable 48-hour period why he should not be arrested and detained at the Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms.
The show-cause order was issued due to Quiboloy's repeated failure to appear at the Senate probe concerning alleged abuses associated with him and his church, the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC).
The panel has issued three invitations to the doomsday preacher dated January 23, February 19 and March 5.
In the letter sent by Quiboloy’s camp to the Senate panel, it said that the ongoing Senate investigation “is not in aid of legislation but is tantamount to usurpation of judicial functions beyond the powers of the Senate.”
The preacher's camp also criticized Senate Resolution No. 884, filed in December 2023, which called for a probe into alleged victims of KOJC. They deemed it "brazenly incriminatory," arguing that it undermines the right of individuals to be presumed innocent until proven guilty.
“The refusal of pastor Quiboloy 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,” the letter read.
On March 5, Hontiveros asked the Senate to initiate a motion for contempt against the preacher, urging the issuance of a warrant of arrest.
However, Sen. Robinhood Padilla blocked this motion on March 12, as he failed to garner enough support from his fellow senators to prevent the contempt motion.
RELATED: Looming arrest for Quiboloy as Senate won't shield 'Son of God'
On March 4, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said that the Department of Justice had reversed the dismissal of Quiboloy’s 2020 case by the Davao City Prosecutor’s Office.
It has ordered the filing of a case for violation of Republic Act 7610 or the Anti-Child Abuse Law, which mentions a provision for sexual abuse of a minor.
Another case of qualified human trafficking, which is non-bailable, is to be filed before a Pasig City court according to Remulla.
The DOJ chief also mentioned that the department has issued a preliminary hold departure order against the preacher and a lookout bulletin order to prevent Quiboloy from leaving the country.
If probable cause was found against Quiboloy, a judge may issue a warrant of arrest against him, according to the Rules of Criminal Procedure.
RELATED: The cases vs 'Appointed Son of God': A list of Quiboloy's ongoing legal challenges
- Latest
- Trending
