SC asked: Junk Quiboloy’s bid to stop Senate arrest

MANILA, Philippines —  The Senate has asked the Supreme Court (SC) to dismiss the petition filed by fugitive Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Apollo Quiboloy to stop the chamber from enforcing its order for his arrest.

Quiboloy was ordered arrested by the Senate for refusing to appear before its committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality on allegations of human trafficking, rape, sexual abuse and violence against him.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and committee chairperson Sen. Risa Hontiveros signed the arrest order.

Quiboloy’s camp filed a petition before the SC for the issuance of a temporary restraining order or writ of preliminary injunction to stop the implementation of his arrest order, saying it was “unjust and unconstitutional.”

SC spokesperson Camille Ting said the Senate was asked to comment on Quiboloy’s petition as part of the procedure for handling petitions.

In a 53-page comment filed on Tuesday, the Senate said Quiboloy failed to establish a clear and unmistakable right that is under threat, or whether he is at risk of suffering “an irreparable injury.”

“He offers not a right, but a speculative and doubtful prediction of what will happen if he attends a legitimate inquiry as if he is prescient as to how the 24 senators will act in the future,” it read.

The injuries Quiboloy claimed he suffered as a result of the arrest warrant were “purely self-inflicted,” it added.

“He would not be in this predicament had he simply performed an obligation that every citizen of this country is bound to perform,” the Senate said. “He would not be in this situation had he simply complied just like any other citizen.”

A court in Davao City issued an arrest warrant for Quiboloy for child and sexual abuse charges. A Pasig City court also ordered his arrest for a non-bailable qualified human trafficking case.