Sen. Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday threatened to cite in contempt and arrest Apollo Quiboloy if he will not appear in the next hearing on March 5. She also told Quiboloy, the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder and leader, not to play victim.
Hontiveros was reacting to the latest audio message of Quiboloy that was uploaded as a video on various social media network platforms by his supporters. She belied his claims that his constitutional rights were being violated and a bounty was placed on him.
“His constitutional rights remain intact to the effect that he is being investigated by a senate committee, to the effect that he was issued a warrant, he was issued a subpoena. So, he has all the freedom to make a decision,” the senator said in a mix of English and Tagalog.
“But, of course, there is an obligation as a citizen who has serious accusations against him. As to the bounty on his head, c’mon, like I said, he should not play the victim,” she added.
Hontiveros, chairperson of the Senate committee on women, children, and family relations, is conducting an investigation into the human trafficking and sexual violence cases filed against the religious leader by the former members of his organization.
The senator noted that the real victims on this issue are those who found the courage to bring Quiboloy to justice because of what they went through under his influence.