The appointment of former President Rodrigo Duterte as administrator of the properties of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ church signals its leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy’s plan to escape and evade prosecution, Senator Risa Hontiveros said Monday.
In a media briefing, Hontiveros noted this move bolsters speculation that Quiboloy was preparing to escape.
She believes that Quiboloy is still in country, and asked the Bureau of Immigration to ensure that the religious leader cannot escape “from all borders of our country — all ports of exit.”
Quiboloy’s lawyer Ferdinand Topacio has maintained the pastor remains in the Philippines and is “securing himself.”
Also on Monday, Senator Robinhood Padilla filed a resolution seeking a Senate inquiry into the indefinite suspension of Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) network, which is owned by Quiboloy.
In Senate Resolution 960, Padilla sought to have the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media, which he chairs, to handle the investigation “in aid of legislation.”
“The imposition of baseless suspension orders on SMNI not only constitutes a denial of due process but also an erosion of press freedom,” he said in his resolution.
Congressmen also urged embattled Quiboloy to attend the hearing of the House Committee on Legislative Franchises today, Tuesday.
House Deputy Speaker and Quezon Rep. David Suarez reminded Quiboloy to respect the legislative process of Congress.
“He was invited and asked to present himself so that he can clarify issues regarding the investigations being conducted by the Committee on Franchise,” Suarez told reporters.
The committee, chaired by Parañaque City Rep. Gus Tambunting, has issued a subpoena against Quiboloy to attend the March 12 hearing on the alleged violations committed by SMNI on the terms of its franchise.
Meanwhile, Hontiveros described as “out of this world” the alleged 17 conditions of Quiboloy before he appears before an inquiry of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family and Gender Equality.
Hontiveros said this is the first time she encountered a resource person who has laid down conditions before attending a Senate inquiry.
“What I can say about that is why would the Senate adjust for him [Quiboloy]?,” Hontiveros said.
“The Senate will not bend its rules and procedures for you, Pastor Quiboloy, even if you are, as you say, a self-appointed son of God,” she added.
The first alleged condition cited by Hontiveros orders the panel to “unmask and show the full faces of your witnesses, no mask, no dark eyeglasses, no caps, bonnets, or head covering of any kind.”
Another is Quiboloy saying that “I retain the right to personally cross examine your witnesses. That includes you, Madam Chair (No time limit).”
Hontiveros admitted though that she only saw the alleged conditions spreading in social media and her panel has not received any official communication from Quiboloy’s camp.
“I hope it’s not true but it is really spreading in social media,” she said.
Probe on SMNI suspension sought Padilla maintained the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), in its show-cause and suspension orders on SMNI, “failed to indicate the need to suspend the operations of SMNI, much more express how this is necessary to avoid serious and irreparable damage or inconvenience to the public or to private interests.”
He added that the right of the people to public information “should not be unduly curtailed” because access to information on matters of public concern will help people by giving them a better perspective of vital issues confronting our society.
He noted the Supreme Court – in the case of Chavez vs. Gonzales in February 2008 – made it clear that freedom of the press is “crucial and so inextricably woven into the right to free speech and free expression, that any attempt to restrict it must be met with an examination so critical that only a danger that is clear and present would be allowed to curtail it.”
The NTC noted that the 30-day suspension order was issued against SMNI on Dec. 19, 2023 after the House of Representatives said in Resolution 189 that the SMNI violated several provisions of its franchise as provided under Republic Act 11422.
In response, the SMNI asked the commission to specify and detail its violations concerning its Certificate of Public Convenience.
This request was denied by the NTC, which said the show cause order had sufficiently and expressly stated the acts alleged to have been committed by the media network.
