RECENTLY, Sen. Risa Hontiveros suggested that the License to Own Firearms should be revoked from Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy following the case he is currently facing.
Pastor ACQ’s legal counsel criticizes Hontiveros’ ‘highly irresponsible’ suggestion not founded by law
However, Atty. Israelito Torreon, as a senator with lawyers in her office, deems this statement irresponsible as it is not stated in the law.
Torreon fears that people might believe the senator’s statements even if they are inaccurate.
“’Yung batas po dito July 2012 pa Comprehensive Firearms Act what are the grounds to revoke the license? to carry of a person ‘yung ano niya eh that is provided for under Section 39 and there are 10 grounds there and if you are merely accused of a crime is that a ground to revoke a license to own or permit? No it’s not a ground and as a senator with an army of lawyers with her for lack of a better word highly irresponsible to suggest that which is not founded upon the laws,” according to Atty. Israelito Torreon, Legal Counsel of Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy.
“Because what she said is not stated in Section 39, that because Pastor has a case, his license to own can be canceled. Pastor doesn’t even need a gun, and my point, Senator, we should read a little before we do interviews in the media because you have many followers, and if we don’t speak up, your supporters might think you’re right about what you’re saying,” said Atty. Torreon.
Torreon also criticized the spread by the senator that the good pastor allegedly has a private army.
Before criticizing, Torreon suggests that Hontiveros should present evidence from the army and NICA to prove her accusations.
It is clear that Pastor leads a congregation and the only thing he has is an “army of prayer warriors.”
“I hope the good senator will be reminded that she is a senator of the republic and that comes with certain responsibilities under the law and under our morals, good ethics and as a senator I think I do hope that she will not mind it if we will remind her that her statements with public should be backed up with evidence and should not be based on raw or unconfirmed information,” Torreon stated.
“Because what I know is Pastor has an army, but it’s an army of prayer warriors, but armed men? I’ve been to the Prayer Mountain and Glory Mountain several times, there is no army there, only Pastor Quiboloy’s prayer warriors. Even in JMC, people are praying for him, but there is no private army. And as a senator, before she says something, she should have confirmation—a certification from the army confirming that Pastor Quiboloy has a private army because NICA would certainly have facts that would prove if the allegation is true,” he stated.
It appears that the senator’s statements are all gossip or rumors as she has not presented any evidence to support her allegations against the esteemed Pastor of The Kingdom of Jesus Christ.
“But she hasn’t shown anything, it’s just an allegation. So. it’s like the senator being a gossip. I hope she doesn’t always do that because if she keeps doing it, people might say she’s Senator Marites [gossiper] because it’s hard if her basis are just rumors. That’s unacceptable,” he added.
