LAWYERS of televangelist Apollo C. Quiboloy, who is wanted in the United States for sex trafficking, claimed on Tuesday that the Senate’s subpoena for him to attend a congressional probe is illegal.
In a letter to Senator Ana Theresia “Risa” N. Hontiveros-Baraquel, Mr. Quiboloy’s legal team said he did not need to face the probe since the Senate committee on women, children, family relations and gender quality had already labeled him as guilty before finishing its investigation.
“We hereby submit that the issuance and enforcement of the said subpoena is in wanton violation of the fundamental and sacred constitution rights of our client against self-incrimination and the presumption of innocence until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt,” read a copy of the letter signed by Melanio Elvis M. Balayan, one of Mr. Quiboloy’s lawyers.
At the committee’s probe on Tuesday, Ms. Hontiveros -Baraquel held the evangelist in contempt for once again failing to attend the hearing.
She said the committee would work with the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) in the next hearing to look into Mr. Quiboloy’s assets and alleged money laundering activities.
“This committee requests the Senate President to order his arrest so that he may be brought to testify,” Ms. Hontiveros-Baraquel said.
Senator Ferdinand “Robin” C. Padilla, a political ally of former president Rodrigo R. Duterte who had Mr. Quiboloy as his spiritual adviser, opposed the move but with little effort to explain why.
Mr. Quiboloy had been indicted in a California district court on Nov. 12, 2021, and a federal warrant had been issued for his arrest.
The Department of Justice (DoJ) on Monday ordered the filing of child abuse and human trafficking charges against the evangelist and five of his associates from Kingdom of Jesus Christ church.
Mr. Quiboloy earlier claimed that the US was allegedly conniving with Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and first lady Maria Louise “Liza” Araneta-Marcos to assassinate him in the country.
The President has denied the allegation and urged the evangelist to face his accusers. — John Victor D. Ordoñez
