Pastor Apollo Quiboloy speaks during a miting de avance on May 7, 2016 in Luneta.  Fernando G. Sepe Jr., ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA (UPDATED) -- The Senate's arrest order against Kingdom of Jesus Christ's Pastor Apollo Quiboloy is already in effect. 

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri signed the order shortly before two in the afternoon, Tuesday, which makes it final and executory. 

The signed order reached Senator Risa Hontiveros at two in the afternoon.

Arrest Order against Kingdom of Jesus Christ's Pastor Apollo Quiboloy. Sherrie Ann Torres, ABS-CBN News 

The arrest order was the Senate's response to Quiboloy's continued defiance of the Senate Commttee on Women's summons regarding its probe on the pastor's alleged abuses to his followers such as human trafficking and rape.

Interviewed at the sidelines of the Commission on Appointments' Plenary Session, Zubiri disclosed that he did everything to persuade Quiboloy to attend the hearing, to no avail.

"We tried our best, even back-channeling to ask Pastor Quiboloy to attend. The best possible way we can to other intermediaries. Pero ayaw talaga nyang pumunta dito. So we have no other choice but to issue the warrant of arrest," Zubiri told reporters.

"We studied it (Quiboloy and Hontiveros's exchanges) carefully. We had a legal team study it together with myself and 'yun ang kalalabasan talaga. We have to respect the committee's decision," the Senate leader added.

Zubiri assured Quiboloy that he will be safe in the Senate's hands.

"We'll ensure him that this will be fair, that his rights will be respected, there will be no harm will come to him. We can guarantee him that he will be safe in the Senate when he visits, and of course respects his decisions and answers," Zubiri said.

Once Quiboloy is arrested, he will go straight to the Senate detention area. 

The arrest order can no longer be appealed during the Senate plenary session which will take its Holy Week break starting this week.

The Senate Committee on Women meanwhile can resume its Quiboloy investigation even during the session break, said Zubiri.

The senators said they followed the Senate Rules to the letter.

"Somehow, the appeal was made at the committee level... may nag-object, hindi nakuha ang numero para object-an. So, the final court is for the SC (Supreme Court) to issue the decision upheld by the committee," Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, in a separate interview, said.

Hontiveros, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women, meanwhile conveyed her gratitude to Zubiri signing the arrest order.

She also commended those who testified against Quiboloy.

"Kasi walang karapatan si Quiboloy yurakan ang dignidad ng Senado. Ang pangbabastos niya sa institusyong ito ay hindi talaga dapat palagpasin. Higit-higit na pasasalamat sa lahat na mga testigo na naglakas loob na makilahok sa dambuhalang labang ito. Kayo, ang puso ng imbestigasyong ito at kasama niyo kami sa senado hanggang dulo pa," Hontiveros said.

QUIBOLOY'S SIDE

Quiboloy's legal counsel, Atty Melanio Elvis Balayan issued a text statement later in the afternoon.

"We respect the decision of the Senate but Pastor Quiboloy shall exhaust all available legal remedies to protect his constitutional rights which should not be trivialized or taken for granted," Balayan said.

Last week, Quiboloy's camp responded to a show cause order on why he should not be detained by the Senate for skipping the hearings of Hontiveros' panel.

His lawyers said the probe was "tantamount to usurpation of judicial functions beyond the powers of the Senate. 

They added that the investigation was “brazenly incriminatory” since it had "categorically declared the guilt of Pastor Quiboloy for crimes being attributed to him, totally disregarding the constitutional presumption of innocence until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt."

Quiboloy has denied that he sexually abused female personal assistants or "pastorals". He said the women made up the accusations because he rejected them.

"Ako po ay hindi nag-asawa. Ngayon inaakusahan ako ng napakaraming babae. Eto po ang kasalanan ko. Pinayaman ako ng Panginoon. Akala nila sa akin, single ako, kaya pinag-aagawan ako. Pagkatapos na ako'y maghihinde, mapapahiya, ibabaliktad nila sa akin. 'Yan ang tinatawag kong Potiphar's wife syndrome," he said.

Quiboloy faces a separate House of Representatives investigation on the alleged franchise violations of Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI), a media outlet associated with him.

Quiboloy's friend, Senator Ronald dela Rosa, while expressing his sadness, stated that everyone must respect the Senate Rules.

"Mahirap na ring i-violate 'yung rules ng Senate. Kung ano ang magiging desisyon ng committee. In as much as, we will follow the rules. Hindi mo pwedeng balewalain 'yung rules. Kung ano ang nasa rules available, yun ang susundin," dela Rosa said.

(It's difficult if we violate the Senate Rules. You cannot ignore that. What's in the rules should be followed.)

The Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms has 24 hours to serve the arrest order before reporting back to the chamber.