Senator Risa Hontiveros remarked that the ongoing standoff between police and Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) members in Davao City could have been avoided if religious leader Apollo Quiboloy had attended Senate hearings or court appearances from the start.
"Nanawagan ako ng hinahon mula sa kapulisan at sa mga miyembro ng Kingdom of Jesus Christ," Sen. Hontiveros said in a statement on Monday.
"Quiboloy, matatapos ang lahat ng ito kung magpakita ka na sa publiko," she added.
Hontiveros firmly stated that the fugitive and leader of KOJC, Apollo Quiboloy, must face the charges against him.
"Talagang lumalabag pa rin si Apollo Quiboloy sa obligasyon nya sa ilalim ng mga warrants of arrest, unang una mula sa senado at ‘yung obligasyon niyang humarap sa mga korte dyan mismo sa Davao at dito sa NCR na iniimbestiga siya sa mga kasong mabibigat," Hontiveros said in an exclusive interview with DZRH for Damdaming Bayan on Monday.
Additionally, Hontiveros, who is also the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality, stated that Quiboloy will still be summoned to the Senate once he is apprehended by the authorities.
She calls on the Philippine National Police (PNP) to ensure that no violence is committed in the exercise of their mandate.
"Walang mamamayan ang dapat masaktan sa proseso ng pagdakip kay Quiboloy. Our law enforcers must practice maximum tolerance," Hontiveros mentioned in her statement.
The police are still scouring the KOJC compound for a possible entryway to the suspected tunnel leading to Quiboloy's hiding place.
Police Major Catherine Dela Rey mentioned in a DZRH exclusive interview that multiple heartbeats were detected under the KOJC compound using their life detector equipment, which suggests that Quiboloy and others could be hiding there.
