FORMER Chief Presidential Legal Counsel, Atty. Salvador Panelo, countered Former Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio‘s remarks, suggesting that Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ should appear before congressional hearings following the subpoena issued against him.
“That’s his opinion. Maybe you should just become Pastor’s lawyer… Tony Boy,” according to Atty. Salvador Panelo – Former Chief Presidential Legal Counsel.
This was the response of Former Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Atty. Salvador Panelo to the recent remarks made by Former Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, who suggested that Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ should appear before the Congressional and Senate hearings against him.
According to Carpio, Pastor Quiboloy should appear before the hearing to assert his right against self-incrimination.
For Atty. Panelo, however, the Supreme Court has already issued a decision regarding the subpoena power of Congress against an individual.
“The Supreme Court said that it should, first and foremost, be in aid of legislation. You need to show why. What do you want to inquire into? What law is that? What is the problem? Does it need to be amended? Does it need to be repealed? Do you see that?” Panelo stressed.
For Panelo, it’s clear that the hearing against Pastor Apollo is in aid of grandstanding.
The former chief presidential legal counsel also pointed out that the situation of the hearing against the pastor is different because he is accused of committing a crime.
“The subject of inquiry is related to the commission of a crime. And it is said that he committed a crime, so it should not be in Congress or in the Senate— it should be in the courts. That’s the main opposition there. Because the mandate for committing a crime, one, the Executive Department through the DOJ will have to investigate and determine a probable cause, and if there’s probable cause, the judiciary comes in for the hearing. And that cannot be provided by a committee in Congress or the Senate,” Panelo added.
Meanwhile, Pastor Apollo has already stated that he will not attend the House and Senate hearings and challenged those accusing him of crimes to file a case in court.
