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Politics plays part in 'appointed Son of God' probe

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ABS-CBN News

David Dizon

<p>Politics is playing a big part in Congress&#x27; twin probes of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, the controversial founder of the Davao-based Kingdom of Jesus Christ church, two analysts said Friday. </p><p>Quiboloy, a close friend of former President Rodrigo Duterte, is facing 2 congressional investigations, with the Senate focusing on his alleged sexual abuses against Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) members and the House of Representatives zeroing in on the alleged franchise violations of Sonshine Media Network International — the media company associated with him but that company reps say he does not own.</p><style type="text/css" id="isPasted">
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</style><p>Quiboloy is also wanted by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation&#x27;s (FBI) for sex trafficking and other charges in there.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/05/22/on-fbi-most-wanted-list-quiboloy-calls-himself-modern-day-joseph">On FBI most wanted list: Quiboloy calls himself &#x27;modern-day Joseph&#x27;</a></div><p>For Prof. Ronald Llamas, the political undertones of the investigation on the self-confessed &quot;appointed Son of God&quot; are no longer in the background. </p><p>This, after Quiboloy accused President Ferdinand &quot;Bongbong&quot; Marcos Jr. of conspiring with US authorities to allegedly &quot;eliminate&quot; him. Marcos has denied the accusation, saying the pastor should just face the twin investigations.</p><p>&quot;Si PBBM na mismo ang nagsabi na dapat dumalo si Quiboloy sa hearing,&quot; Llamas said. </p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/2/28/marcos-urges-quiboloy-face-abuse-allegations-923">Marcos urges Quiboloy: Face Senate, House hearings</a></div><style type="text/css" id="isPasted">
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</style><p>Sen. Risa Hontiveros, chairperson of the Senate committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality, recently moved to cite Quiboloy for contempt and sought an arrest warrant against him after the pastor snubbed the panel hearing for a third time.</p><p>Four senators, however, opposed the contempt order: Robin Padilla, Cynthia Villar, Imee Marcos and Bong Go. A fifth senator, JV Ejercito, signed the objection to the contempt order but later withdrew his signature. </p><p>Llamas said the decision of the senators to either oppose or support the arrest order shows political calculation.</p><p>&quot;Binabalanse ng mga senador kung &#x27;yung kanila bang pagsuporta kay Quiboloy ay makakatulong sa kanilang political interest. (The senators are weighing if giving support to Quiboloy would help their own political interest),&quot; he said. </p><p>Llamas, however, said Quiboloy, who calls himself the &quot;appointed Son of God&quot;, should not snub the hearings especially since it tackles the alleged rape and abuse of female members of the KOJC.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/01/23/24/2-ukrainian-pastorals-accuse-quiboloy-of-sexual-abuse">2 Ukrainian &#x27;pastorals&#x27; accuse Quiboloy of sexual abuse</a></div><p>&quot;Kung ikaw ay Anak ng Diyos, hindi ka dapat matakot sa hearing. Hearing lang naman,&quot; he said. </p><p>For his part, Dr. Aries Arugay, chairperson of the UP Department of Political Science, said the opposition to the Senate contempt order shows that Quiboloy has friends in the Senate who could help him if in case he shows up to the hearings. </p><p>He said the reasoning that there should be separation of Church and State in the Quiboloy probe beggars the question: Should religious groups be exempt from investigation?</p><p>Arugay noted some of the senators will be running for reelection in the 2025 polls. </p><p>&quot;Careful din sila kung saan sila papanig kasi gustong patunayan ng Quiboloy group na meron silang supporters na marahil makakaapekto sa botohan,&quot; he said. </p><p>He pointed out that many voters want to hear Quiboloy testify. </p><p>&quot;Marami ring botante ang pabor na na humarap si Quiboloy sa pagdinig at tumestigo.&quot;</p>

<p>Politics is playing a big part in Congress' twin probes of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, two analysts said Friday.</p>

Politics is playing a big part in Congress' twin probes of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, two analysts said Friday.