Ni NOEL ABUEL
Opisyal nang nagpalabas ng arrest order ang Senado laban kay Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Apollo Quiboloy dahil sa patuloy na pagbalewala nito sa patawag ng Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality.
Sa nilagdaang kautusan ni Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri at Senador Risa Hontiveros, ang chairman ng komite, pinaaaresto na nito si Quiboloy matapos na hindi makumbinse ang mga senador sa paliwanag ng kampo ng religious leader sa show cause order.
“For unduly refusing to appear, despite due notices, at the hearing of the Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality on January 23, February 19, and March 5, 2024 and for merely sending his counsel to appear for him without justification reason, and thereby delaying, impeding and obstructing the inquiry into the reported violation of human trafficking, rape, sexual abuse, and violence, and child abuse,” ayon sa nasabing kautusan.
“Therefore, upon motion of the undersigned chairperson, and seconded by Senator Aquilino ‘Koko’ Pimentel III, the Committee, during the March 5, 2024 hearing, hereby cites Pastor Apollo Quiboloy in contempt of the Committee, and of the Senate, and ordered arrested and detained at the Office of the Sergeant-At-Arms until such time that he will appear and testify in the Committee, or otherwise purges himself of that contempt,” ayon pa sa arrest order.
Inatasan ang Senate Sergeant-at-Arms na agad na iimplementa ang arrest order at ibalik sa loob ng 24-oras mula sa pagpapatupad nito.
Sa kalatas na inilabas ni Zubiri, sinabi nitong ang desisyon na maglabas ng arrest order ay base sa desisyon ng komite at ang paglagda nito ay bahagi ng obligasyon nito bilang Senate president.
“We maintain that this is a committee matter. The subject of this inquiry in aid of legislation has been referred to and is properly cognizable by the committee. Therefore it is the committee which should determine the sufficiency of Pastor Quiloboy’s response to the show cause order,” sabi ni Zubiri.
“The chairperson, Senator Risa Hontiveros, found no merit in the explanation of Pastor Quiboloy and has ruled to deny the reliefs prayed for and to issue the order of arrest,” dagdag pa ng Senate president.
“Pursuant to our duly published Rules Governing Inquiries in Aid of Legislation and the Rules of the Senate, it is ministerial for me to sign the order of arrest. We are signing the order to protect our committee system, to preserve the Senate’s power of inquiry with process to enforce it,” giit nito.
Ngunit sinabi ni Zubiri na sakaling magdesisyon nang humarap sa pagdinig si Quiboloy sa susunod na pagdinig ay hindi na ipapatupad ang arrest order laban dito.
“We reiterate that the purpose of the order of arrest is not to punish but to make the inquiry potent and compelling,” aniya pa.
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