By Benjamin Pulta | Philippine News Agency
State lawyers have formally asked the Supreme Court (SC) to dismiss the petition filed by fugitive religious leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy questioning the contempt, arrest, and detention order issued against him by the Senate.
In a 45-page comment dated July 8, the Senate, through the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), asked the SC to dismiss the petition filed by Quiboloy, who remains at large, and deny the latter’s plea for a temporary restraining order against the legislative chamber which is conducting an inquiry on alleged irregularities in the operation of Quiboloy’s group.
“Had he attended the Senate hearings as is expected of all citizens, he would not have been placed in this predicament. Invariably, it would be incorrect to anchor the claim of urgency (by Quiboloy) on mere speculation that respondent Senate would openly and knowingly violate his (Quiboloy’s) constitutional right against self-incrimination,” the OSG said in its comment.
“Petitioner (Quiboloy) seeks to carve out an exception for himself. Armed with only a speculative and misguided claim, he has the temerity to seek judicial succor even as he is openly and obstinately defying the authority of not one but two great branches of government.”
“No other citizen in the history of the Senate’s exercise of this power has acted in such an arrogant, recalcitrant, and contumacious manner,” the OSG added.
The Senate in January sent an invitation for Quiboloy to appear in the Committee hearing. The pastor then appointed his lawyer to appear on his behalf. In March, after repeated subpoenas, the Senate committee cited Quiboloy in contempt and ordered his arrest.
Besides the Senate arrest order, Quiboloy has standing arrest warrants for child and sexual abuse issued by the Davao City Regional Trial Court and human trafficking issued by a Pasig City court. The cases are non-bailable.
On July 8, Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. announced that a P10-million reward is being offered to anyone who can give information leading to Quiboloy’s arrest.
