FOLLOWING the prayer rally at Liwasang Bonifacio on Monday, thousands of Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy’s supporters, including senior citizens, held a noise barrage to demand justice and called for the resignation of Sen. Riza Hontiveros.
Despite the scorching 33-degree Celsius heat on Tuesday, members of The Kingdom of Jesus Christ braved the weather to express their support for Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy.
On the same day, Sen. Risa Hontiveros attempted to cite Pastor Quiboloy for contempt for not attending the hearing following an issued subpoena, but Senator Robinhood Padilla promptly opposed the move.
We are here outside the Senate, and behind me, and in front of me, are hundreds of leaders from the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) across Metro Manila. They are demanding justice for Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy. According to [KOJC], their numbers may increase if the hearing against the Pastor persists. The group is also calling for the resignation of Senator Risa Hontiveros.
Even senior citizens attended the rally, some of them asserting that the allegations against Pastor Apollo are untrue. They claimed that the witnesses who appeared before the Senate were bought with money.
“The stories about abuses that they are saying are not true,” said Sabino, KOJC Member.
“That’s not true. That’s not true. Ask anyone— the Kingdom citizens. We are not being abused,” said Juvelieta, KOJC Member.
“We are not being abused by Pastor and the Kingdom. We love Pastor willingly,” Karmen, KOJC Member.
“The witnesses inside [the Senate] are paid liars,” she added.
Recently, the so-called witnesses against Pastor Apollo— some masked and concealing their real identities— were presented to the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality.
Meanwhile, Juvelita, a long-time member of the KOJC, shared that Pastor Apollo is providing their needs without asking for anything in return.
Contrary to the claims of the hired witnesses about abuse, KOJC members are said to willingly work and contribute to the community.
“We are not abused. Pastor loves us with all his heart. Whatever we need— Pastor is there to help us without asking for anything in return. Pastor’s love is eternal,” Juvelieta, KOJC Member.
The noise barrage outside the Senate comes a day after thousands of KOJC leaders held a prayer rally at the Liwasang Bonifacio, Manila, to express their growing dismay with the current administration.
Meanwhile, Tuesday marks the second consecutive day that The Kingdom of Jesus Christ has held a massive rally against the government, and more rallies are expected to happen in the future.
Pastor Apollo’s camp remains firm in using his constitutional right, challenging the senator to bring the accusations to court rather than treating the Senate as a courtroom.
