Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Apollo Quiboloy on Wednesday dared certain former members of his sect to formally file their complaints against him instead of airing their sexual abuse charges in a Senate hearing.
In a video statement played over his sect’s Facebook page, Quiboloy stressed he will not submit himself to a “bogus” hearing of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality chaired by Senator Risa Hontiveros.
He also referred to “bogus witnesses” using aliases presented during the Senate hearing, slamming their testimonies “as mere fabrications, which destroyed his reputation being a founder and leader of an international religious group.”
The KOJC leader also challenged Hontiveros to help his supposed victims file charges in court, where “there is fair play.”
Quiboloy strongly denied all charges imputed against him before the Senate panel.
He said the rape charge was untruthful as it was already dismissed by a court in Davao City, and that the sexual abuses he supposedly perpetrated on two Ukrainian women “pastorals” were untrue.
Quiboloy decried being the subject of a demolition job. “My reputation is at stake here,” he added.
This developed as House assistant minority leader Arlene Brosas called on the Department of Justice to investigate the cases of sextrafficking, rape, and physical abuse of women and children filed against the pastor Quiboloy, also founder and alleged owner of Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI).
Hontiveros on Tuesday said she wants Quiboloy to be subpoenaed and grilled on charges of sexual abuse, including rape and other crimes. Quiboloy did not show up during Monday’s hearing of the Senate panel.
Quiboloy’s lawyers also dared several former members of his church to formally file their complaints against him instead of airing their sexual abuse allegations in a Senate hearing.
The complainants, including two Ukrainian women, told the Senate committee on Monday that Quiboloy and other members of their congregation had sexually abused them.
However, Quiboloy’s lawyer, Ferdinand Topacio, questioned the intention of the Hontiveros-led Senate panel in mandating the KOJC leader to attend the next hearing.
“The Senate is not the prosecution, it is not the National Bureau of Investigation, it is not a criminal investigative body,” Topacio argued.
He said his client was studying his options for the next Senate hearing, as the lawyer challenged his client’s accusers to file their complaints before the prosecutors, or the police.
In the meantime, Quiboloy has no intention of evading the allegations against him and will remain in the country, Topacio said.
Brosas, a nominee of Gabriela Women’s Party made the call even as Hontiveros’ panel has initiated hearings on Quiboloy’s alleged sexual abuses against multiple members of his group.
Brosas’ Gabriela filed last year House Resolution 644 in light of the “wanted” posters released by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) against Quiboloy.
Brosas lamented that during the Duterte administration, Quiboloy managed to get away with his crimes.
“The DOJ should immediately launch an investigation, especially on Quiboloy’s activities here in the Philippines,” Brosas said in Filipino.
She also appealed to her colleagues to ratify House Resolution 644 and help the victims achieve the long-overdue justice they deserve.
“Quiboloy should be brought to justice and not let him hide the various crimes he committed against women,” Brosas stressed.
“We stand with the victims of Quiboloy and urge the government to initiate an inquiry into his activities in the Philippines,” she added.
The National Telecommunication Commission has disclosed it issued an indefinite suspension order against SMNI for alleged failure to comply with a 30-day suspension order issued last December.
Senate rules provide persons who defied its subpoenas to attend the chamber’s legislative hearings can be cited for contempt and held in its detention facility.
Bureau of Immigration chief Norman Tansingco has confirmed that Quiboloy, who is also wanted in the United States on fraud charges, was still in the Philippines.