Televangelist Apollo Quiboloy cannot refuse a Senate subpoena summoning him to face an investigation on alleged trafficking and sexual abuse of his members, retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said Monday.

Speaking to TeleRadyo Serbisyo, Carpio said the Supreme Court has aready issued several decisions upholding the Senate's power to summon individuals in legislative inquiries. 

He said Congress cannot violate Quiboloy's right against self-incrimination when he has not even been questioned yet.

"Pag sinubpoena ka ng Senado o Congress o committee, you have to appear. Hindi pwedeng sabihin mo 'That will violate my constitutional right.'  That's premature. As a citizen, obligado ka. You have to appear and pag tinanong ka, may tanong na requires an incriminating answer, doon lang pwede sabihin na 'di ko sasagutin yan' na 'I invoke my right against self-incrimination,'" Carpio said. 

"Kailangan mong sumipot at hintayin mo yung tanong. Kasi baka yung tanong harmless."

Resource persons such as officials of Pharmally Pharmaceuticals Corporation as well as government officials such Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn Bolante were required to face Senate inquiries for different corruption allegations. 

The Senate earlier ordered Quiboloy’s arrest and detention for his continued snub of the chamber’s hearings into his alleged human trafficking and sexual abuse crimes, some of which are now before local courts.

Courts start proceedings vs Quiboloy over sexual, child abuse: DOJ

Quiboloy’s lawyer Elvis Balayan earlier said the pastor’s camp will "exert all available legal remedies to protect his constitutional rights."

He claimed the Senate committee on women chaired by Sen. Risa Hontiveros was acting like a court and had deemed the pastor guilty.

"The pastor cannot be duped into appearing in a trial by publicity… The Senate is not the dispenser of justice in this country. Only the courts can declare the guilt or innocence of Pastor Quiboloy," Balayan said.

Quiboloy may challenge Senate arrest order before Supreme Court, says his lawyer