SENATORS Robin Padilla and Francis Tolentino gave their reactions after Senator Risa Hontiveros warned that Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy might be arrested if he fails to attend the Senate hearing regarding the allegations against him.
To recall, Pastor Apollo did not appear in the past two Senate hearings of the Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality.
“Perhaps this should be taken to court because, of course, we are looking at both rights; the accuser and the accused have rights. In this discussion, we are talking about law and order,” said Senator Robinhood Padilla.
According to Senator Robin Padilla, Hontiveros should stop her investigation and file a case in court to let the legal process take its course.
In the latest hearing of Hontiveros on February 19, Senator Padilla expressed his trust in the integrity of Pastor Apollo and mentioned that he has long been known for advocating peace and counter-insurgency in the country.
“If we are going to accuse and stand up— whether we are afraid or not— we need to face the one being accused by showing our faces and being recognized because that’s what the next generation will remember,” said Sen. Padilla.
Meanwhile, in a press conference held on Monday, Senator Francis Tolentino bluntly stated that Hontiveros should respect the rights of Pastor Apollo.
“So, for me, we reiterated during the interview that if Pastor Quiboloy pursues legal means through the courts— similar to what happened in the Neri Case in the Senate, if you still remember— no one can stop him, and that should not be stopped because it is his right,” said Senator Francis Tolentino.
Senator Tolentino, who is also a lawyer, pointed out that even resource persons cited in contempt should still be respected for their human rights based on the new rules of investigation in the Senate that he amended before stepping down as chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.
“If you recall, when I was still the chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee, we changed the rules. And the rules, as amended, would apply likewise to persons cited in contempt,” stated Tolentino.
“So, in our amendment of the rules, we emphasized the human rights of those facing the committee. So, in our provision, we acknowledged their rights as individuals, as Filipino citizens,” he added.
Based on the new investigation rules, Pastor Apollo should not be mistreated if he chooses not to attend the Senate hearing.
Tolentino also emphasized that Pastor Apollo cannot be treated as a criminal because the judgment of an accused is not in the hands of a Senate committee but in court.
“That is clear. Our role here in the Senate is to investigate in aid of legislation. It is not the duty of the Senate to condemn and imprison an individual because that individual, no matter how highly or lowly he is, has the same basic human right and the right to innocence,” Tolentino clarifies.
“So, let’s respect that. That’s what I said before. Let’s respect the rights of Pastor Quiboloy,” he added.
The next Senate hearing on the allegations against Pastor Apollo will be held on March 5.
