Marcos to Quiboloy: Face hearings, say your side of story

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Wednesday urged Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Apollo Quiboloy to use the congressional hearings to answer the accusations being levelled against him and his religious group.

Interviewed by reporters before departing for Canberra, Australia for a visit, Marcos advised Quiboloy to "say your side of the story."

''He has an opportunity in the hearings both in the House and in the Senate to say his side of the story. Kaya po sinasabi niya, hindi totoo lahat 'yan, hindi totoo, walang nangyaring ganiyan, 'di sabihin niya (If he's saying that these are all untrue, then he should say it in the hearings),'' Marcos said. 

Marcos added that it would be more difficult for Quiboloy if he is cited for contempt by Congress.

''That’s why my advice for him is to just face the questioning in the House and in the Senate. Marinig natin ang kaniyang side para malaman natin kung ano ba talagang nangyayari dito (so we could hear his side and know what is really happening),'' he added.

Both the Senate and the House of Representatives have issued subpoenas for Quiboloy after he skipped separate hearings on the alleged abuses being linked to KOJC as well as calls to revoke the franchise of Swara Sug Media Corporation, the legal operating name of Sonshine Media Network International, the broadcast media arm of KOJC.

Quiboloy, who denied the accusations against him, earlier said he would only face the courts.

GMA News Online has reached out to Quiboloy's lawyer, Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, for comment on Marcos' statement, but he has yet to respond as of posting time. 

Meanwhile, asked for his comment on Quiboloy's allegation that he and First Lady Louise ''Liza'' Araneta-Marcos were conniving with the US government to "eliminate" him, Marcos said nobody wanted the religious leader dead.

''Walang may gustong mag-assassinate sa kaniya. Bakit siya i-assassinate? Why would anyone want him dead?" the President said. 

At the Senate, Senator Risa Hontiveros, who is leading the chamber's probe into the alleged human trafficking and sexual abuses of KOJC's members, reiterated her call for Quiboloy to face the Senate.

"Sang-ayon po ako kay Presidente. Dapat humarap talaga si Apollo Quiboloy sa pagdinig pati dito sa Senado. At gaya ng sinabi ko nung isang araw ay bukas ang Senado para sa kanyang panig at siya lamang ay aming hinihintay," Hontiveros said at a press conference.

(I agree with the President. Apollo Quiboloy must face the hearings. And like what I said the other day, the Senate is open for him to air his side. We are waiting for him.)

"Nabanggit ko rin earlier na ang susunod na senaryo ay kapag 'di pa rin sila humarap sa bisa ng subpoena, ay isa-cite  ko sila in contempt at pa-arestuhin," she added.

(I also mentioned that if he continues to evade the Senate then he would be cited for contempt and arrested.)

Hontiveros earlier reminded Quiboloy that no one was above the law. 

Duterte’s advice

Meanwhile, former President Rodrigo Duterte, a long term ally of Quiboloy, advised the pastor to get himself arrested unless he decides to show up at the Senate. 

“Get yourself arrested. This is a free country. If you don't want to go there, get arrested.. I’ll give him the free choice,” Duterte said at a press briefing in Davao City on Tuesday. 

The former chief executive also believes that there may be a threat to Quiboloy’s life, following the latter’s accusation that the US government is plotting to "eliminate" him through rendition instead of extradition.

“I could not really say that I can validate his statement independently… But what I can say is that maybe somehow his life is in danger,” Duterte said. 

“Ang kaso niya sa Amerika eh. Hindi naman dito. Wala namang kaso si Pastor Quiboloy dito. He’s free to move around,” he added, claiming that the preacher’s cases are only minor. 

(Quiboloy’s charges are in America. He has no cases here.) 

Duterte also said he has no idea whether Quiboloy is in the Philippines right now or elsewhere. 

Duterte has also denied that he and his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, once received firearms from Quiboloy, as accused by a Senate witness. —with Hana Bordey and Giselle Ombay/KBK, GMA Integrated News