RETIRED Supreme Court justice Antonio Carpio said citizens, including religious leader Apollo Quiboloy, were under an “unremitting obligation” to submit themselves to the subpoena powers of the Senate or its committees.
In a statement quoted in the Inquirer, the former magistrate said: “All those subpoenaed by the Senate or its Committees in aid of legislation have no choice but to appear before the Senate or its Committees, there is no constitutional right that may be violated,” he added.
Carpio said the right of the person subpoenaed against self-incrimination “is well-settled,” but any subpoenaed person may raise the right of incrimination “only when the incriminating question is asked.”
He was reacting to Quiboloy’s continued refusal to attend the Senate inquiry on the sexual abuse and trafficking allegations against him and other leaders of his Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) sect.
His lawyer earlier cited his right against self-incrimination as his legal ground to refuse attending the Senate hearing.
