Stressing that fugitive televangelist Apollo Quiboloy is “not entitled to seek relief,” Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra asked the Supreme Court to reject his petition for a temporary restraining order (TRO) and writ of preliminary injunction.
Quiboloy, founder and leader of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), applied for a TRO and a preliminary injunction against the arrest order issued by the Senate Committees on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs and Women and Children chaired by Senators Ronald Dela Rosa and Risa Hontiveros, respectively.
The arrest order was issued after Quiboloy was cited in contempt due to repeated failure of attending the Senate hearings into his alleged criminal activities, which included human trafficking, sex-related offenses and violence
In the comment filed by the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) for the Senate, Guevarra noted “it had been clear that he (Quiboloy) had no intention of submitting himself to the processes of the court and the Senate.”
“He does not come to court with clean hands,” Guevarra said further.
The Solicitor General said the Senate inquiry is in aid of legislation, adding that Quiboloy’s invocation of his constitutional right against self-incrimination was misplaced.
According to Guevarra, in this case, Quiboloy is being summoned as a resource person in a Senate inquiry and not as an accused in a criminal trial. Because of this, he said the pastor’s attendance is mandatory.
Aside from the Senate’s arrest order, a Davao court also charged Quiboloy with qualified human trafficking and sexual abuse cases. It has also issued arrest warrants against him and his co-accused. Authorities have been searching for him as he remains in hiding.
