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7 Marso 2024, Miyerkules
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Cops ready to assist Senate in arresting Quiboloy
By J.Lo
“Another reason is House legislative franchise inquiry on Quiboloy’s network SMNI…let us not gang up on person…they have rights to due process, to defend themselves, and right against self-incrimination,” Sen. Imee Marcos said Philippine National Police (PNP) is ready to assist Senate should it decide to order arrest of Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Apollo Quiboloy.
PNP, however, maintained its assistance is only limited to providing security to the Senate’s sergeant-at-arms who will serve warrant to self-proclaimed son of god, PNP chief information officer Col. Jean Fajardo told news briefing at Camp Crame.
Senate panel on women chairperson Risa Hontiveros moved to cite Quiboloy for contempt after he snubbed committee’s hearing on allegations of sexual abuse committed by him and other members of his group.
Fajardo said they have yet to receive formal request from Senate for assistance in hunting Quiboloy.
In the event there are overt violations of law during serving of warrant against Quiboloy, Fajardo said police officers are ready to enforce act accordingly.
On the other hand, Marcos vowed to support Sen. Robin Padilla’s bid to block contempt order against Quiboloy.
At press briefing Marcos said she and Padilla will do their best to gather signatures to block Hontiveros’ order to have Quiboloy detained in Senate for defying her probe on alleged sexual abuses in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.
But Marcos admitted they are having difficulty in getting needed majority or eight signatures from other members of Senate women, children, and gender equality committee to prevent pastor’s impending arrest.
Other committee members are Senators Nancy Binay, Pia Cayetano, Cynthia Villar, Grace Poe, Raffy Tulfo, Bong Go, JV Ejercito and Mark Villar. Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, Majority Leader Joel Villanueva and Minority Leader Koko Pimentel are ex officio members.
Marcos said they are still seeking support of Senators Go and Villar to lift or modify contempt order issued by committee chairperson Hontiveros.
According to Section 18 of the Senate rules on inquiries in aid of legislation, “majority of all members of Committee may reverse or modify aforesaid order of contempt within seven days.”
Asked why should the Senate give preferential treatment to the pastor while it detained the alleged Socorro cult leader Jey Rence Quilario (Senior Aguila) in a previous investigation, Marcos questioned instead need for Senate probe when cases were filed in Philippine courts and in US for alleged sexual and human trafficking in Quiboloy’s ministry.
She also questioned Senate hearing, instead of conducting inquiry in aid of legislation, found Quiboloy guilty before being presumed innocent.
At separate press briefing, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri would wait for Padilla who vowed to gather eight signatures to lift contempt order.
“He has seven days to show there’s no support for motion of the chairperson… committee matter… I cannot preempt decision of the committee,” Zubiri said.
Meanwhile, Quiboloy’s camp vowed to question legality of arrest warrant issued by Hontiveros.
Mark Tolentino, one of the legal counsels of Quiboloy, expressed optimism that senators will oppose arrest warrant against religious leader.
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