Hontiveros asks Senate leadership to approve subpoena for Quiboloy

MANILA, Philippines —  Sen. Risa Hontiveros appealed to the Senate leadership to approve her subpoena that would compel controversial pastor Apollo Quiboloy to attend her committee investigation into the alleged abuses within the Kingdom of Jesus Christ ministry.

During the Kapihan sa Senado press briefing yesterday, the deputy minority leader said Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri has not yet signed the subpoena order Hontiveros issued against Quiboloy during the previous Jan. 23 hearing.

In her Feb. 6 letter to Zubiri, Hontiveros sought the approval of the subpoena so that Quiboloy can be compelled to attend the next scheduled inquiry and respond to allegations from former ministry members that they were raped and forced to sell goods on the streets to fund his lifestyle.

Hontiveros said she doesn’t want to brand it “obstruction of justice,” as she clung to hope the Senate President would sign the subpoena as part of his “ministerial duty” of signing papers.

“I don’t want to sow intrigue. It’s better if you ask him about it,” Hontiveros said.

Zubiri did not respond to reporters’ questions about the matter.

Hontiveros said she would rather not think that Zubiri was doing Quiboloy a favor because both of them come from Mindanao.