MANILA, Philippines – Senator Robinhood Padilla on Thursday denied that he is defending alleged sex offender and Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Apollo C. Quiboloy.
It was also Padilla who initially blocked the Senate panel on women’s contempt order against the beleaguered sect leader, but he failed to gather enough votes to block the committee’s ruling.
“Lilinawin ko po. Iba ang depensa. Trabaho yan ng abogado niya, itong ginagawa ko ito ay demokrasya. Kailangan natin daanan ito. Para sa akin, itong taong ito ay may karapatan siya sa due process. Kailangan siyang dumaan kung ano ang dinadaanan ng lahat kailangan niyang daanan din,” said Padilla in an ambush interview on Thursday.
(I’ll make it clear. Defending him is different. That’s his lawyer’s job, what I’m doing is democracy. We have to go through it. For me, this person has the right to due process. He has to go through what everyone goes through, he has to go through it too.)
“Sayang naman ang binabayad sa atin ng taumbayan. Kaya tayo nandito, proteksyunan ang demokrasya,” he added.
(I do not want to waste taxpayers’ money. That’s why we are here, to protect democracy.)
In the same interview, Padilla said Quiboloy is getting picked on by his fellow lawmakers who are conducting simultaneous hearings.
‘Let him attend virtually’
The Senate earlier issued a show-cause order against Quiboloy, directing him to explain why he should not be arrested and detained in the Senate for failing to attend its investigations.
Padilla, on the other hand, said Quiboloy should be allowed to attend the Senate panel on women’s hearings virtually.
The Senate is currently investigating the rape, abuse, and human trafficking allegations against Quiboloy.