PASTOR Apollo C. Quiboloy, under investigation by the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality, had previously asserted that he would not attend the hearing, prompting Hontiveros to consider citing him for contempt.
Risa chairs the said committee, while Senator Robin Padilla is a member.
Padilla, who had previously expressed trust in Pastor Apollo’s integrity, stated his opposition to Hontiveros’s decision to cite Pastor Apollo for contempt.
“I apologize, but I oppose this call to cite [Pastor] Apollo Quiboloy for contempt, with all due respect,” Sen. Robinhood “Robin” Padilla said.
Padilla’s objection was well noted by Hontiveros— This is based on the rules of procedure for Senate investigations, where a contempt ruling can be reversed within seven days.
According to Section 18 of the rules of procedure, an order for contempt can be changed or reversed if the majority of all committee members contradict it. The Committee on Women and Children has fourteen members, including Hontiveros.
This means that more than half, or at least eight senators, must support Padilla’s objection for the contempt to be either canceled or modified.
“We have guidance in our rules, Section 18, the rules of procedure governing inquiries in aid of legislation,” Sen. Risa Hontiveros, Chair, Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality stressed.
So Section 18 about contempt is what is written there– a majority of all the members of the committee may, however, reverse or modify the aforesaid order of contempt within 7 days.
Aside from Hontiveros and Padilla, Senator Nancy Binay is the vice chair of the committee. Other members include Senators Pia Cayetano, Cynthia Villar, Grace Poe, Imee Marcos, Raffy Tulfo, Bong Go, JV Ejercito, and Mark Villar.
Hontiveros mentioned that the Ex-officio members, Senate Pro-Tempore Loren Legarda, Majority Floor Leader Joel Villanueva, and Minority Floor Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III should also be included in the count.
The hearing began amid the protests of thousands of leaders and supporters of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ outside the Senate building.
