Neither "god", "heaven", nor his "friends",
will stop the long arm of the Law
It is not surprising that Apollo Quiboloy, by invoking god, or being supported by his friends in the government tries to act infallible. That by downplaying the cases served against him, that self-proclaimed "son of god" tries his best to show to the world that "he is not of this world" yet still living in this world, a fallible being susceptible to sin. And since he lives in this world, the fact that some senators are impeding efforts to force the controversial leader of the Davao-based Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) religious group, to participate in Senate hearings led by Sen. Risa Hontiveros is not surprising, but it is nonetheless unfortunate.
In response to the testimonies coming from witnesses at the Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality hearing, which accused the televangelist of grave crimes like human trafficking and the sexual abuse of women, the Senate issued subpoenas to a man claiming to be "son of god".
However, that "son of god" didn't show up at the committee hearing, even maligning it through his pulpit, crying wolf to and fro, making Riza Hontiveros to cite him for contempt and asked the Senate to order his arrest and face accusations against him.
To begin with, Senator Hontiveros's probe is by no means the only one that has produced reliable proof of the "appointed son of God" having perpetrated heinous crimes. The filing of charges for qualifying human trafficking and child abuse has been mandated by the Department of Justice. The individual who says he chooses whether or not he will roll through the pearly gates would, if found guilty, enter Bilibid's gates himself.
However, as this note previously said, there are senators who oppose Quiboloy's arrest. Senator Padilla, for example, has opposed the motion of contempt and has enlisted Imee Marcos, Cynthia Villar, and Christopher Go in an attempt to prevent Quiboloy from being arrested by their own chamber.
For a concerned would say that it is not convincing the bullshitries coming from those to be in aid of defending Quiboloy from his crimes. Be it from his senators, his fanatics, or even the former president and his allies, the man claiming to be the "son of god" is as if infallible because of these people supporting him regardless of the evidences that putting that "son of god" in a bad light. But, is the folk convinced enough of his apologists' statements?
In an instance, Senator Robin Padilla cited "separation of church and state" to justify his defence of that fallible being. If one may ask, is Padilla willing to become a "people's jackass" by failing to understand what separation of church and state is? The separation of church and state doesn't escape the fact that his friend "the son of god" is accused of crimes against the people and therefore must face it- and it has entirely nothing to do with the faith and beliefs of Quiboloy's "church"- and it's up to the believer whether will cling to his statement of faith even he's in prison or whatsoever, like Warren Jeffs of the "Fundamentalist Latter Day Saint Church" or the late David Koresh for example. Both happened to be religious, but with their crimes their faith couldn't stop the long arm of the law that led to their unlikely fates.
Furthermore, Padilla also said that Quiboloy made a lot of contributions to stop insurgency during the Arroyo era. To some would find "okay" but so was the late Parojinog of Koratong Baleleng whose beginnings as a "counterinsrugency force" end became a crime syndicate; or the Tadtad cults that like Quiboloy, were utilised by the government for "counterinsurgency" and yet notorious for killing priests like Fr. Favali. Quiboloy himself used "counterinsurgency" as an alibi to expand his domain- at the expense of the folk whose struggle for their land end being called as an insurgent, and likely to be killed by the hands of the order. But regardless of Padilla's justification wither by "separation of church and state" or how his friend contributed to the government's programs, he doesn't seem to have understand deeply the constitution and its related laws or statutes.
And along with Villar and other legislators and personalities who stood beside that goddamned pastor, the basis in justifying their defence of him is that of friendship- and that's much obvious over that of "separation of church and state", "support for government-led initatives", among others, just to defend a sinner pretending to be a saint. Cynthia Villar's downplaying of his "friend's crimes" shows a blatant testimony that their "friendship" trumps over that of the need for justice.
Like Padilla's, that "friendship" is rooted on interests, of patronage politics and the looks of it. Not to mention that Dela Rosa's, Go's, or Imee Marcos utter disregard to the victims and instead telling that the courts and not the senate should deal with it. Okay, but what's the purpose of those committees whose purpose includes protecting the vulnerable? Again, those people mentioned rather side with that "son of god" whose interests are intertwined.
Mentioning that "let the courts decide," the United States issued notices against Quiboloy and his gang, but why the local authorities chose to protect him in spite of having an extradition treaty to those being implicated of crimes? It takes a person in the senate who wants to know the truth, if not seeing the purpose of arresting Quiboloy to make the inquiry potent and compelling. Yes, let the courts decide on Quiboloy, but as he himself downplaying the order from the senate to face the inquiry and to counter those from the wittnesses, then his arrest is imminent. Why would these legislators like Padilla, Villar, and Imee Marcos shield him from facing the nation than letting him defend from his accusers? Are they themselves becoming Quiboloy's "black nobility" the way Duterte made them part of his camarilla?
Regardless of their words, Quiboloy is still a fallible being. With his victims seeking justice and the hordes of corrupt siding with him, makes a concerned think will his belief redeem himself? Whereas his claims that he could stop the earthquake, he cannot stop the law from doing its job of imposing justice to the victims of his doing. This note may find lamenting that his supporters may still support him regardless of his actions, that those from the government doesn't matter his crimes as they benefited from his support; but still, law and justice triumphs over interest- and that includes the distortion of faith or the diamond-studded heaven what that "son of god" preaches about.