Televangelist Pastor Apollo Quiboloy (Photo by DENNIS JAY SANTOS / Inquirer Mindanao)
MANILA, Philippines鈥擳he legal troubles of televangelist Apollo Quiboloy continue to multiply as a nonbailable trafficking charge has been brought against him in a Pasig City court, on top of sexual abuse and child abuse cases in Davao City, the said on Tuesday.
On the same day, the Senate issued a warrant for the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) founder鈥檚 arrest for 鈥渦nduly refusing to appear despite due notices鈥� at the inquiry into sexual abuse and trafficking allegations made by his former followers against him and his sect.
In a Viber message to reporters, Assistant Justice Secretary Jose Dominic Clavano said the Davao City Prosecutor鈥檚 Office endorsed a complaint for qualified trafficking in persons against Quiboloy and five of his associates.
The nonbailable trafficking charge was filed in a Pasig City court on Monday.
The other respondents were Jackielyn Roy, Cresente Canada, Paulene Canada, Ingrid Canada and Sylvia Cemanes.
The Davao prosecutor also endorsed sexual abuse and child abuse charges under Republic Act No. 7610, or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act, against the preacher and the five others in a Davao City court.
For those charges, the recommended bail was P260,000 in total.
The prosecutor began legal proceedings against Quiboloy following a March 5 directive from Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.
鈥淭his case underscores our commitment to hold accountable those who would harm our society鈥檚 most vulnerable. Let this serve as a reminder that no individual, regardless of their position, is above the law,鈥� Remulla said in a statement.
Second arrest warrant for Quiboloy
The Senate also began looking for Quiboloy after Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri released the signed arrest order at the request of Sen. Risa Hontiveros, chair of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, which is investigating the complaints against the KJC leader.
Hontiveros had denied Quiboloy鈥檚 appeal to set aside the contempt order and recall the subpoenas issued against him, as his response to the Senate鈥檚 show-cause order was 鈥渘owhere near satisfactory.鈥�
Based on the one-page order, Quiboloy is being 鈥渙rdered arrested鈥� for repeatedly defying the summons by the chamber and merely sending his counsel to represent him 鈥渨ithout justifiable reason, and thereby delaying, impeding, and obstructing鈥� the inquiry into his alleged violations of human trafficking, rape, sexual abuse and violence, and child abuse laws.
READ: Quiboloy case now in court, no bail recommended
It was the second warrant against Quiboloy in days, as the House of Representatives issued its own arrest order against him on March 15 for failing to attend a separate inquiry on the alleged franchise violations of Sonshine Media Network International, the media arm of KOJC.
Place of detention
The Senate order specified that once arrested, Quiboloy would be detained in the office of the chamber鈥檚 sergeant at arms 鈥渦ntil such time that he will appear and testify in the Committee, or otherwise purges himself of that contempt.鈥�
鈥淭he Sergeant-At-Arms is hereby directed to carry out and implement this Order and make a return hereof within 24 hours from its enforcement,鈥� the order added.
Interviewed by reporters, Zubiri said signing the order was only 鈥渕inisterial鈥� under Senate rules.
鈥淲e are signing the order to protect our committee system, to preserve the Senate鈥檚 power of inquiry.鈥�
He maintained that the arrest order 鈥渋s not to punish but to make the inquiry potent and compelling.鈥�