Quiboloy lawyers say he doesn't have 'details' required in SMNI hearing

The lawyers of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy have asked the House Committee on Legislative Franchises to subpoena the current executive pastor of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ religious group and two other personalities instead of the founder of KOJC.

In a letter to Parañaque Rep. Gus Tambunting, the chairman of the House panel, Quiboloy's lawyers indicated that he was in no position to provide the committee with details as regards the management and operations of the Sonshine Media Network International.

“Pastor Quiboloy has not been involved in the management and operations of Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) since the last quarter of 2018, and, was therefore definitely no longer such when the franchise of SMNI was renewed on 22 August 2019,” the letter read.

Quiboloy was issued a subpoena after he failed to attend several hearings of the committee on the alleged violations of Swara Sug Media Corporation, the holder of the SMNI franchise.

Swara Sug lawyer Atty. Mark Tolentino had informed the committee in previous hearings that Quiboloy was considered the honorary chairman but was not involved in the operations of SMNI.

“The Securities and Exchange Commission was informed of his substitution by Mr. Marlon Acobo as Executive Pastor of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJOC) in a filing last 19 December 2022, as reflected in the amended Articles of Incorporation released on 04 January 2023," the lawyers said.

"Thereafter, the only title (if one may call it that) that PAQC has continued to hold in SMNI is that of 'Honorary Chairman' which, as the name implies, is purely honorific in character,” they added.

The letter also stated that because Quiboloy, founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, would be unable to answer questions raised during the committee hearing on March 12, the current Executive Pastor of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ Marlon Acobo, and two of his staff members will be attending instead.

Several members of the House of Representatives had previously warned that the House Committee on Legislative Franchises would cite Quiboloy in contempt if he fails to attend next week’s hearing. —NB, GMA Integrated News