HOUSE Deputy Majority Leader and Tingog Partylist Rep. Jude A. Acidre on Thursday refused to dignify Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy’s antics and tirades, and instead assured the public that the House of Representatives would deal with him accordingly.
More importantly, Acidre said in a press conference Thursday that Quiboloy isn’t above the law despite his exalted view of himself.
“Now I don’t think being an ‘appointed son of God’ puts you above the law and I’m sure no one is above the law,” Acidre said in response to a reporter’s question.
“Narinig niyo naman siguro ‘yung sinabi niya, 30-minute na audio file. Papatulan pa ba natin yun?” AcIdre said, obviously irked by Quiboloy’s response after being issued a subpoena by the House of Representatives.
“But the House would have to deal–dito na lang tayo sa House, ‘wag na natin isipin si Apollo Quiboloy,” the Tingog Partylist lawmaker said.
“On the House we will implement the law. If he does not appear then we will be constrained to execute the subpoena and make sure that he is here to answer the questions and issues raised against him,” he said.
Quiboloy is widely known as the founder of controversial television network SMNI. The House Committee on Legislative Franchises chaired by Parañaque City 2nd district Rep. Gus Tambunting is investigating alleged franchise violations of SMNI, which had earlier been suspended indefinitely by the National Telecommunications Commission. (NTC).
Signed by House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, the subpoena sought Quiboloy’s presence in the scheduled hearing of the Tambunting panel on March 12.
“We will implement the law. If he does not appear then we will be constrained to executive the subpoena and make sure that he is here to answer the questions and issues raised against him,” Acidre said.
Despite Quiboloy’s subsequent outrageous comments on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Speaker Romualdez, among others, Acidre said that the pastor knew fully well the situation that he was in.
“Believe me, he is a pastor. He commands a good number of people around the world. He knows what he is doing. He knows that he is clearly defying the law. He knows he is injuring the political system that we have in place. He is disrespecting the authorities and I think he will be made accountable on that at the right time,” Acidre said.
