Senate inquiry on Quiboloy quite costly for gov't – Padilla

MANILA – Senator Robinhood Padilla said Thursday the investigation on cases against Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) Leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy should be handled by the Department of Justice and the courts.

"May Judiciary, meron pang House, meron pang Senate. Parang ano 'yan. Sa resources ng government, parang doon na sa isang, parang masyadong magastos sa aking palagay," Padilla said in a press briefing.

(There is the Judiciary, the House [of Representatives], and the Senate. In terms of government resources, it is quite costly, I think.)

He said the inquiry is going beyond the Senate objective, which is to discuss issues in aid of legislation.

This week, Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros, who chairs the Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, made the motion to contempt Quiboloy but was blocked by Padilla as panel member.

He said five senators, including him, have so far signed a motion to overturn the contempt motion against the religious leader by the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality.

Padilla said Senators Christopher Lawrence Go, Cynthia Villar, Imee Marcos, JV Ejercito, and himself signed the motion.

"Lima kami. Kulang pa kami ng tatlo," he said.

(We're already five. We need three more [signatures].)

However, Ejercito later today announced that he decided to withdraw his signature from Padilla's motion "after careful review of the facts, witness testimonies, and additional information, such as the allegations of rape during the last committee hearing."

"My consultations have revealed strong precedents indicating that ongoing cases can still be heard and investigated in the Senate. This means Pastor Quiboloy will get an opportunity to present his side," Ejercito said.

He added that his initial signing of the objection to cite Quiboloy in contempt was "in consideration of procedural practicality" and because the DOJ had already pursued charges.

The committee has 11 members – the five mentioned by Padilla, as well as Senators Grace Poe, Raffy Tulfo, Mark Villar, Pia Cayetano, Nancy Binay as vice chairperson, and Hontiveros as chairperson. Its ex officio members are Senate Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, and Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III.

Poe and Tulfo declined to sign the motion, Padilla said.

"Si Mam Pia (Cayetano), hindi pa. Si Senator Mark (Villar), mga dalawang araw na namin kino-contact pero 'di pa namin ma-contact," he said, expressing hope that Senator Cynthia Villar could talk to her son.

(Senator Pia Cayetano has not yet signed. We have been trying to contact Senator Mark Villar for the past two days.)

Padilla has five more days to gather the eight needed signatures to reverse Hontiveros' motion. (PNA)