Hontiveros warns Quiboloy of arrest if no-show in next Senate hearing

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday warned Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Apollo Quiboloy of arrest should he fail to attend the next Senate hearing on the alleged human trafficking and sexual abuse cases in his religious group.

"Wag pong pa-victim. Ang hinihingi lang sa inyo ay humarap sa mga legal na proseso, kasama ang proseso ng Senate investigation. 'Wag ninyo pong dalhin sa lenggwahe ng patayan, kahit 'yan ang nakasanayan ninyo," Hontiveros said in a statement.

"Our next hearing is on March 5 and if Mr. Quiboloy does not show up, I will cite him in contempt and have him arrested," she added.

The Senate issued Tuesday evening a new subpoena against Quiboloy to compel the religious leader to attend the next hearing of the Senate women, children, family relations, and gender equality committee on March 5.

The subpoena ad testificandum was signed by Hontiveros, chairperson of the Senate panel, and Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri.

This was the second subpoena issued against Quiboloy. The first one was released last Monday.

Quiboloy skipped the first two hearings of the Senate committee. His lawyer, Melanio Balayan, represented him during the first hearing.

The KOJC leader earlier said he will not submit himself to the Senate inquiry into the allegations of sexual abuse made by former members of his religious organization against him.

Quiboloy said he would only face the allegations against him before the courts.

"I will not subject myself to injustices that are done in a cloak of a Senate hearing... I will not subject to any of that, but I will face any of you... I will face you anywhere, anytime in a court of law," he previously said.

"Just do it. If you cannot do that, you are all bogus, you are all false. You don't deserve my respect because you don't respect my personal rights. I will not also respect your office as a senator," he added.

Meanwhile, in an audio recording posted on Facebook on Wednesday, Quiboloy accused the United States government, allegedly with help from Philippine government officials, of plotting to "eliminate" him through rendition in connection with the cases he is facing in the US.—AOL, GMA Integrated News