MANILA -- President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday urged controversial religious leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy to attend the Senate and the House of Representatives' hearings into the allegations against him and his groups.

"I would just advise him that kung meron naman siyang sasabihin, he has an opportunity both in the House and the Senate to say his side of the story. Sinasabi niya hindi totoo lahat 'yan, walang nangyaring ganyan, edi sabihin niya," Marcos told reporters before leaving for Canberra, Australia for a two-day state visit.

Quiboloy faces a Senate inquiry into his alleged sexual abuses against Kingdom of Jesus Christ members and a House probe into alleged franchise violations of Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI), a media outlet associated with him.

Quiboloy camp receives Senate subpoena

He could be cited for contempt if he continues to skip the hearings, Marcos noted.

"Kung makakapunta siya, sagutin niya lahat ng tanong, edi tapos na. That's why my advice for him is just face the questioning in the House and the Senate, marinig natin ang kaniyang side para malaman natin kung ano ba talagang nangyayari dito," the President said.

He also dismissed Quiboloy's allegation that the United States has a plan to "eliminate" him, supposedly with the blessing of Marcos.

Quiboloy claims US-Marcos conspiracy against him

"Walang gustong mag-assassinate sa kanya," Marcos said.

"Hindi ko naiintindihan ‘yung sinasabi niya. Bakit siya i-assassinate?”

Quiboloy recently said he was ready to face trial in the United States over his cases there, but the legal proceedings have been repeatedly delayed.

"Naghihintay po ang aking mga lawyer sa Amerika at sa Pilipinas na simulan ang trial. Mula 2018, pinostpone. Ginawang 2020, pinostpone. Ginawang 2022, pinostpone. 2021 ganon din. 2023, pinostpone pa rin," he said.

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation said Quiboloy is "wanted for his alleged participation in a labor trafficking scheme that brought church members to the United States, via fraudulently obtained visas, and forced the members to solicit donations for a bogus charity, donations that actually were used to finance church operations and the lavish lifestyles of its leaders."

"Members who proved successful at soliciting for the church allegedly were forced to enter into sham marriages or obtain fraudulent student visas to continue soliciting in the United States year-round," the FBI said in its website. 

"Furthermore, it is alleged that females were recruited to work as personal assistants, or 'pastorals,' for Quiboloy and that victims prepared his meals, cleaned his residences, gave him massages and were required to have sex with Quiboloy in what the pastorals called 'night duty,'" it added.

Quiboloy still in Philippines, just being cautious — lawyer

In an interview with Quiboloy's camp yesterday, his lawyer Ferdinand Topacio said there was no decision yet on whether the pastor would attend the Senate's investigation.

"He is just taking precautions to ensure his safety," Topacio said. "He did not categorically state that he was not participating. He just criticized the process by which the inquiry is being made, which is not in aid of legislation but of persecution."

"It would seem that Sen. Hontiveros has already pronounced Pastor Apollo Quiboloy guilty. There's really wrong, there's something rotten," he added. 

The Senate issued a subpoena requiring Quiboloy to attend the next hearing on the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality set on March 5. 

Quiboloy risks arrest if he snubs subpoena: lawmaker

 -- With a report from Pia Gutierrez, ABS-CBN News