Zubiri: Senate panel must first issue show cause order vs Quiboloy

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said on Tuesday that a show cause order must first be served on Apollo Quiboloy before he could sign a contempt order against the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader.

In an interview with reporters, Zubiri explained he would discuss the matter with Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality Chairperson Senator Risa Hontiveros as this process was consistent with the Supreme Court (SC) decision on the petition filed by former Presidential Economic Adviser Michael Yang and Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation official Linconn Ong against the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.

"Kasi naglabas na ng ruling yung Supreme Court sa Pharmally. Remember the Pharmally issue about the indirect contempt? So under the ruling of the Supreme Court, we must exhaust all legal avenues, in other words, due process," Zubiri told reporters.

(The Supreme Court had released a ruling on Pharmally's petition. Remember that the issue of Pharmally is about indirect contempt. So under the ruling of the Supreme Court, we must exhaust all legal avenues, in other words, due process.)

"So ang request ko kay (so my request to) Senator Risa, all she has to do is come up with another committee hearing really quickly, maybe today, maybe tomorrow, or Monday, to give a show cause order," he added.

Show cause order issued

Later in the day, the Senate issued a show cause order instructing Quiboloy to explain within a non-extendible period of 48 hours why he should not be ordered arrested and detained at the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms for refusing to attend the committee hearings despite notices.

The order was signed by Hontiveros and approved by Zubiri.

Last week, Hontiveros ruled that Quiboloy would be cited for contempt after the religious leader repeatedly ignored the subpoena issued by the Senate, and invoked his right to due process.

"I don't want to be in violation of the Supreme Court ruling on the Pharmally issue," said Zubiri.

Should Quiboloy ignore the show cause order, Zubiri said he would sign the contempt order against the religious leader.

"'Pag nag-show cause order si Ma'am Risa at hindi pa rin satisfactory 'yung explanation, sagot, at ayaw talaga pumunta dito, then it is ministerial on the part of the Senate to release a warrant of arrest," the Senate President said.

(If a show cause order is issued by Ma'am Risa's committee and Quiboloy's explanation is not satisfactory or he won't show up here, then it is ministerial on the part of the Senate to release a warrant of arrest.)

At least four senators attempted to block the Senate panel's ruling to issue a warrant of arrest against Quiboloy.

Among them was Senator Robin Padilla, who objected to Hontiveros' ruling to cite Quiboloy in contempt, and tried to gather the support of the majority or eight of the 14 members of the Senate panel to reverse the order to issue an arrest warrant against the KOJC leader.

Under Section 18 of the Rules of Procedures Governing Inquiries in Aid of Legislation, Padilla had until today to gather enough signatures to block Quiboloy's arrest.

In a privilege speech on Monday, Padilla appealed to the Senate committee to issue a show cause order against Quiboloy instead of pushing through with the issuance of a contempt order.

Speaking to reporters, Senate panel Vice-chairperson Senator Nancy Binay said she did not sign Padilla's written objection out of respect for Hontiveros' decision.

"May ganung kondisyon na we yield to the wisdom of the chairperson... Di rin naman kasi katanggap-tanggap na hindi natin nire-require na mag-attend ang isang imbitado sa Senado... If ever, first time ever ata sa history ng Senate kung natuloy itong reversal ng decision," Binay said in an ambush interview.

(There are situations when we yield to the wisdom of the chairperson. And it's also unacceptable for us not to require someone to attend after a Senate invitation. If ever, this would be the first a decision would be reversed.)

For Binay, the allegations against Quiboloy, especially the alleged sexual abuses committed by the KOJC leader, were serious enough for him to face the investigation. — DVM, GMA Integrated News