‘Honorary’ SMNI chair Quiboloy has no info House panel needs — lawyers | ABS-CBN
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‘Honorary’ SMNI chair Quiboloy has no info House panel needs — lawyers
‘Honorary’ SMNI chair Quiboloy has no info House panel needs — lawyers
RG CRUZ,
ABS-CBN News
Published Mar 09, 2024 07:58 AM PHT
MANILA — Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy is only an honorary chairman of Sonshine Media Network International does not have the information that the House Committee on Legislative Franchises has summoned him for, his lawyers said.
MANILA — Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy is only an honorary chairman of Sonshine Media Network International does not have the information that the House Committee on Legislative Franchises has summoned him for, his lawyers said.
Lawyers Ferdinand Topacio, Joselito Lomangaya and Raphael Antonio Andrada wrote Parañaque Rep. Gus Tambunting, panel chair, saying the pastor "does not possess the specific details or documents."
Lawyers Ferdinand Topacio, Joselito Lomangaya and Raphael Antonio Andrada wrote Parañaque Rep. Gus Tambunting, panel chair, saying the pastor "does not possess the specific details or documents."
They said that Quiboloy "has not been involved in the management and operations of Sonshine Media Network International since the last quarter of 2018" and since the franchise renewal in 2019.
They said that Quiboloy "has not been involved in the management and operations of Sonshine Media Network International since the last quarter of 2018" and since the franchise renewal in 2019.
They said the Securities and Exchange Commission had been informed of Quiboloy's replacement as executive pastor by Marlon Acobo in December 2022. The change is also reflected in the network's amended Article of Incorporation released in January 2023, they also said.
They said the Securities and Exchange Commission had been informed of Quiboloy's replacement as executive pastor by Marlon Acobo in December 2022. The change is also reflected in the network's amended Article of Incorporation released in January 2023, they also said.
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"Thereafter, the only title, (if one may call it that) that [Quiboloy] has continued to hold in SMNI is that of 'Honorary Chairman' which, as the name implies, is purely honorific in character," they told the committee.
"Thereafter, the only title, (if one may call it that) that [Quiboloy] has continued to hold in SMNI is that of 'Honorary Chairman' which, as the name implies, is purely honorific in character," they told the committee.
They said the panel should instead direct its inquiries to Acobo, lawyer Eunice Ambrocio and Maria Norfelly Marimon.
They said the panel should instead direct its inquiries to Acobo, lawyer Eunice Ambrocio and Maria Norfelly Marimon.
"Therefore, we respectfully request that the Committee issues the corresponding subpoenae to the aforementioned individuals in the stead of [Quiboloy]," they said.
"Therefore, we respectfully request that the Committee issues the corresponding subpoenae to the aforementioned individuals in the stead of [Quiboloy]," they said.
Tambunting declined to comment on the letter on Friday night but reiterated that the subpoena is "personal" to Quiboloy.
Tambunting declined to comment on the letter on Friday night but reiterated that the subpoena is "personal" to Quiboloy.
"It is within the discretion of Congress to subpoena the particular persons who would best answer the questions posed in the inquiry," the panel chair said in a text message.
"It is within the discretion of Congress to subpoena the particular persons who would best answer the questions posed in the inquiry," the panel chair said in a text message.
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The committee resumes its hearing on March 12.
The committee resumes its hearing on March 12.
It is also tackling a bill revoking the congressional franchise of Swara Sug Media Corp.
It is also tackling a bill revoking the congressional franchise of Swara Sug Media Corp.
The Senate is also conducting a separate investigation into allegations of abuse within the Kingdom of Jesus Christ religious group, where Quiboloy bills himself the Appointed Son of God.
The Senate is also conducting a separate investigation into allegations of abuse within the Kingdom of Jesus Christ religious group, where Quiboloy bills himself the Appointed Son of God.
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