House execs sign Quiboloy arrest warrant

MANILA, Philippines — An arrest warrant for fugitive pastor Apollo Quiboloy was signed on March 15 by House of Representatives officials following his consistent refusal to honor the subpoena as lawmakers discussed violations of the TV franchise the evangelist reportedly owns.

“The order to release the arrest warrant will be issued (this) week,” Rep. Johnny Pimentel told The STAR yesterday.

Pimentel confirmed that House legislative franchises committee chair Rep. Gus Tambunting and House Secretary General Reginald Velasco signed the arrest warrant.

The warrant will be given to House sergeant-at-arms and retired police major general Napoleon Taas, who will then coordinate with the Philippine National Police in serving the warrant.

The Tambunting panel has approved House Bill 9710 which would revoke the legislative franchise that Congress issued to Swara Sug Media Corp., operator of Sonshine Media Network Inc. that the self-styled preacher reportedly owns.

Last week, the bill reached the House plenary, where congressmen are to deliberate and decide whether to recommend shutting down the Davao City-based network and cancel its franchise altogether, which is supposed to be valid for 25 years or until 2044.

Tambunting told House reporters at a briefing that HB 9710 will take the usual legislative mill or route, where it would first undergo third and final reading in the House before it can be sent to the Senate for the same procedure for senators’ concurrence.

Quiboloy is holed up in the highlands of Davao, praying for “divine guidance” while continuing to run his Kingdom of Jesus Christ ministry, according to one of his legal counsels.