The Senate and House of Representatives on Monday issued separate subpoenas to Pastor Apollo Quiboloy to attend their respective hearings on disparate issues, even as a former member of Quiboloy’s Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) cult said former President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Sara Duterte picked up guns from the religious leader’s Davao City estate.
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Monday signed the subpoena ad testificandum to compel Quiboloy to attend the Senate hearing led by Senator Risa Hontiveros into the alleged large-scale human trafficking and other crimes allegedly committed by the KOJC leader.
Later, the House issued its own summons signed by Speaker Martin Romualdez and Rep. Gus Tambunting compelling Quiboloy to attend a hearing in aid of legislation on the alleged violations of Swara Sug Media Corporation of its franchise to operate the Sonshine Media Network Inc. television station.
As this developed, a certain “Rene” testified before the Senate committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality chaired by Hontiveros that the former President and his daughter Sara, who was then mayor of Davao City, came to Quiboloy’s Glory Mountain compound to pick up several guns.
“Whenever Quiboloy arrived aboard a chopper, he was carrying several huge bags with different kinds of guns. These were laid down inside a tent beside the mansion,” Rene, who said he worked as the cult leader’s gardener, told the Senate panel.
“Sometimes former President Rodrigo Duterte and former Davao Mayor Sara Duterte went there. When they left the Glory Mountain, the Dutertes were already carrying the bags loaded with guns,” he added.
Rene also alleged that he was physically and sexually abused by officials of the KOJC church. He said he was forced to beg for money and was hit by Quiboloy when the church leader disliked his landscaping works at Glory Mountain.
Hontiveros barred Quiboloy’s lawyer from testifying in his behalf during the last hearing, noting that only the KOJC leader can answer questions since these are “personal.”
Quiboloy has repeatedly stressed he will only attend a hearing in court. He also argued the cases being heard by the Hontiveros panel had already been dismissed by the courts in Davao City.
House Secretary General Reginald Velasco and Tambunting, the House committee on legislative franchises chair, directed Quiboloy in their subpoena to attend a hearing on March 12.
‘’Please be advised that failure to comply with this Order will constrain the Committee to resort to Section 11 of the Rules of Procedure Governing Inquiries in Aid of Legislation of the House of Representatives on the power of contempt,’’ the letter stated.
In last week’s hearing, Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel, the panel’s vice chairman, moved that the panel summon Quiboloy, who is SMNI’s honorary chairman.
Pimentel said if Quiboloy does not attend the committee’s next hearing, the panel would be forced to cite him in contempt and to order his arrest.
Pimentel said the pastor’s name has been mentioned in numerous instances during the inquiry into SMNI’s alleged franchise violations and it was time that he explained his side.
The Makabayan Bloc composed of Reps. Arlene Brosas of Gabriela, Raoul Daniel Manuel of Kabataan, and France Castro of Alliance of Concerned Teachers earlier complained against the social media presence of SMNI, which has been suspended indefinitely from broadcasting by the National Telecommunications Commission.
