By Tide

More than a month has passed, and with no change, the Senate probe on the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) leader Apollo Quiboloy, chaired by Senator Risa Hontiveros, continues to be part of every Filipino’s news cycle. Quiboloy, the self-appointed Son of God, face sexual abuse allegations made by former members of the KJC. 

After a subpoena to attend said hearings, a show-cause order to explain his absence, and now an arrest order, members of the KJC posted Quiboloy allegedly citing 17 conditions for his attendance to these hearings. These included requests such as allowing Quiboloy to “personally cross-examine the witnesses, including Hontiveros,” doing so with no time-limit, and that “all witnesses to wear no mask, no dark eyeglass, no caps, bonnets, or head covering of any kind.” Hontiveros replied to these conditions, calling them “absurd.” However, Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, Quiboloy’s legal counsel, says no such conditions were made.

The Senate continues to investigate Quiboloy, but is met by opposition. In a protest by his supporters, Hontiveros was urged to resign out of being “unfair” to Quiboloy. KJC’s Political Affairs Coordinator, Benjie Gantalao, states that “as miracle-rights workers, they know their Pastor and the former members who testified under alias about him.” Several senators also expressed their support for Quiboloy. Senator Robinhood Padilla aimed to collect signatures enough to overturn Quiboloy’s contempt citation, to which Senators Cynthia Villar, Bong Go, and Imee Marcos all supported. Padilla states that Hontiveros does not need to investigate the sexual abuse allegations against Quiboloy. Villar, one of the signatories, states that Quiboloy is a friend of hers.

All of this begs the question, are their positions, as lawmakers and leaders, all in the effort to themselves and the connections they have? Are their actions really in favor of the Filipino mass? Padilla claims that his actions are all for “democracy,” that he is protecting Quiboloy’s right to due process. According to him, his actions should not be seen as a way of defending Quiboloy, despite his vocal support for the pastor. Quiboloy’s support also comes outside religious intentions, but has also transcended towards party politics. Victor Rodriguez, former President Bongbong Marcos’ executive secretary, protested strongly about the injustices faced by Quiboloy, and of the Vice President Sarah Duterte and the former President, in a video posted by Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI).

Alas, this grandstanding on Quiboloy’s part, and his failure to show up and face the allegations that he is accused of, is an injustice on the former KJC members that have braved a difficult path of scrutiny and publicity, all in expressing their experience with the pastor. The Senate hearing, which continues to allow Quiboloy to share his side of the story and answer the allegations he faces, is also the same hearing that Quiboloy continues to mock and belittle. Even a self-appointed Son of God is under the rule of law. If democracy and Philippine politics truly care and serve to protect the rights of the Filipino people, when will justice be served for them?