PBBM to Quiboloy: Attend hearings, defend yourself

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FACE lawmakers and defend yourself.

This was the advice given by President Marcos Jr. to Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, who is the subject of two separate subpoenas issued by the Senate Committee on Women and the House Committee on Legislative Franchise compelling him to appear before senators and congressmen, respectively, in relation to ongoing investigations on two different issues.

In an interview before he left for Australia where he would address the Australian Parliament, the President said the best way for Quiboloy to “defuse” his conflict with the lawmakers is to “testify before the committees in the House and in the Senate.”

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“I would just advise him that… kung mayroon naman siyang sasabihin… he has an opportunity in the hearings both in the House (of Representatives) and the Senate to say his side of the story. Kaya po (kung) sinasabi niya, hindi totoo lahat ‘yan, hindi totoo, walang nangyayaring ganiyan, ‘di sabihin niya (I would just advise him that… if he has something to say… he has an opportunity in the hearings both in the House and the Senate to say his side of the story. He kept on saying that all of that is not true, that is not true, it did not happen… then say it there),” Marcos said.

He said Quiboloy is making things worse for him by hiding instead of facing the charges against him.

“That’s why my advice for him is to just face the questioning in the House and in the Senate. Marinig natin ang kaniyang side para malaman natin kung ano ba talagang nangyayari dito… I think he should take advantage of that (That’s why my advice for him is to just face the questioning in the House and in the Senate. We can hear his side and know what really happened… I think he should take advantage of that),” he also said.

The Senate Committee on Women is looking into allegations that Quiboloy supposedly sexually abused women members of his church and committed other forms of abuse against other members. The House Committee on Legislative Franchises, on the other hand, is investigating alleged franchise violations of the Sonshine Media Network Inc. (SMNI) owned by the pastor.

The self-proclaimed son of God has repeatedly snubbed the hearings of the two committees, prompting the leaderships of the two houses to issue subpoenas to compel him to attend the proceedings.

Marcos denied Quiboloy’s claim that he and First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos are supposedly conniving with the United States government to “eliminate” him.

The President said that “nobody wants to have Quiboloy assassinated” and pointed out that the cases filed against the pastor were filed in the US before he became president.

‘HE HAS BRAINS’

Former President Rodrigo Duterte, in a press conference in Davao City on Tuesday night, said he will not get involved with Quiboloy’s troubles with the two houses of Congress, saying that the latter can fend for himself since he has “the resources and a lot of brains to navigate his way.”

He said that being a former prosecutor, he “cannot afford to dabble” into such things, adding that Quiboloy is aware of his position.

He added the church leader has a free choice whether to attend the legislative hearings or be cited in contempt and get arrested.

During the presser, the former president joked that Quiboloy should probably just hide in Africa, as he added that he does not know where the pastor is hiding.

At the same time, Duterte denied that he and his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, received firearms from Quiboloy.

He said in jest that he is the firearms supplier in his province, so he has no business asking anyone for a firearm, adding that he should probably deliver a cannon or a machine gun to Quiboloy.

Duterte said the government never runs out of “silly” people or “idiots.”

A former landscaper of Quiboloy testified before the Senate committee that he once saw Duterte and his daughter receiving “bags of guns” from the pastor, a claim that the Vice President has dismissed as mere “attacks” against her.

DUE PROCESS

Senate deputy minority leader Risa Hontiveros said the Senate panel has been according Quiboloy due process by repeatedly inviting him to attend the hearings to refute the allegations against him.

The pastor, she insisted, is the one who refuses to participate.

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“In-afford din siya ng due process dito sa Senado dahil pagkatapos unang pagsalitain ang mga victim-survivor na dapat lamang, ay ilang ulit inimbita. Ngayon sinubpoena para madinig din ‘yung kanilang panig. That is due process all around (He was afforded due process here in the Senate because after we allowed the victim-survivors to speak out, which was the right thing to do, we sent several invitations to him. And now we issued a subpoena so we can hear his side. That is due process all around),” Hontiveros said in a press conference.

She said that as of yesterday, the camp of Quiboloy has not yet communicated with her office if he will attend the scheduled hearing on March 5.

Hontiveros said Quiboloy should respect the President who said that he should face the congressional hearings.

“Well, sa kabila nung pagbanat ni Quiboloy pati kay Presidente, siguro naman ang pananalita ng occupant ng pinakamataas na opisina sa ating gobyerno at bansa, siguro naman may konting bigat… tingin natin, dapat lamang may bigat po sa kanila iyon (Well, amid Quiboloy’s tirades even against the President, maybe the statement of the occupant of the highest government office will somewhat have weight. To me, it should have a weight for him),” she added.

Hontiveros assured Quiboloy that he will be accorded due respect when he attends the committee hearing, even as she said that the pastor’s legal counsel will not be allowed to speak on his behalf should he decide to just send his lawyer to attend the hearing. — With Raymond Africa

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