News Roundup 13 March 2024
Mar 13, 2024 • 5 min Read
Looming arrest for Quiboloy as Senate won’t shield ‘Son of God’ | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Defenders of controversial preacher Apollo Quiboloy at the Senate have failed to muster enough signatures to block the contempt order against him, placing the self-claimed “Son of God” at the mercy of looming arrest if he does not respond to a show cause order within 48 hours.
Quiboloy’s Senate defense crumbled on Tuesday after only five senators signed the written objection to the contempt order against the Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder, Sen. Robin Padilla said. This is three signatures short of the eight required to overturn the contempt ruling.
The five senators who attempted to shield Quiboloy are Padilla, Sen. Bong Go, Sen. Imee Marcos, Sen. Mark Villar and Sen. Cynthia Villar, according to Padilla.
This comes a week after the Senate women and gender equality committee chaired by Sen. Risa Hontiveros cited Quiboloy in contempt for his continued refusal to face the panel about the charges against him and his church.
The Senate has since issued an order against Quiboloy compelling him to “show cause” on why he should not be cited for contempt.
The show cause order, signed by Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and Hontiveros, states that if Quiboloy does not comply, the Sergeant-At-Arms is “directed to make a return hereof within twenty four hours from its enforcement.”
Zubiri said on Tuesday that if Quiboloy’s response is not satisfactory, it would be “ministerial” on the part of the Senate to order Quiboloy’s arrest.
Full Story at: Looming arrest for Quiboloy as Senate won’t shield ‘Son of God’ | Philstar.com
Lawmakers puzzled over VP Sara’s presence at Quiboloy ‘prayer rally’ | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Some lawmakers have questioned Vice President Sara Duterte’s motives for gracing the “prayer rally” organized for controversial preacher Apollo Quiboloy on Tuesday night, with one senator saying that Duterte’s defense of the wanted sex trafficker stands in contrast with her duties as education secretary.
In two separate press conferences, Sen. Risa Hontiveros criticized Duterte for openly supporting Quiboloy even as he faces allegations of sexual abuse of minors, while a member of the House said they “do not know” Duterte’s purpose for joining the rally.
Quiboloy’s supporters organized a rally called the “Laban Kasama ang Bayan” at Liwasang Bonifacio on Tuesday night to express support for the embattled self-appointed “Son of God” after he was recently cited for contempt by committees at the House and the Senate.
The Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder, who is currently in hiding, has repeatedly snubbed lawmakers’ summons to legislative inquiries about his alleged sex crimes and his supposed complicity in the alleged franchise violations of SMNI, the media partner of KOJC.
Through his legal representatives, Quiboloy argued that compelling him to show up to committee investigations steps on his right to due process and that he would only face the courts.
Duterte has also come to Quiboloy’s defense, saying in a statement on Monday night that the congressional probes against the KOJC founder are a form of “unfair” and “violent” targeting, and that lawmakers are subjecting him to a “trial by publicity.”
Among the gravest allegations against Quiboloy and his church are their alleged rape and abuse of minors. Victims testifying during a Senate hearing say they were pressured by KOJC leaders into doing sexually exploitative acts in the guise of “surrendering” their personhood to God.
Full Story at: Lawmakers puzzled over VP Sara’s presence at Quiboloy ‘prayer rally’ | Philstar.com
Bill revoking SMNI franchise approved by House on second reading | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — A bill that would revoke the franchise given to Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI), in light of several violations found by a House of Representatives panel, has been approved on second reading.
During the plenary session on Wednesday, House Bill No. 9710 by 1-Rider party-list Rep. Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez was approved via viva voce or voice voting.
The second reading approval came just a day after the House committee on legislative franchises headed by Parañaque 2nd District Rep. Gus Tambunting approved the bill and the subsequent committee report.
SMNI, operating as Swara Sug Media Corporation, was initially investigated by the House after Laban Kasama ang Bayan host Jeffrey Celiz wrongly claimed that Romualdez spent P1.8 billion for trips in 2023.
House Secretary General Reginald Velasco then clarified that the total travel cost for all House members and their staff from January 2023 to October 2023 was only P39.6 million.
Full Story at: Bill revoking SMNI franchise approved by House on second reading (inquirer.net)
UP Diliman is top PH university — EduRank | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines —Independent metric-based ranking organization EduRank named the University of the Philippines (UP) – Diliman as the best university in the country in its 2024 ranking.
According to its rankings released on February 29, UP Diliman led the list of 100 Philippine universities. It also ranked UP Diliman as the 374th best university in Asia, and 1367th in the world.
UP-Diliman was followed byDe La Salle University, Ateneo de Manila University, University of Santo Tomas and UP – Los Baños
In sixth spot is UP – Manila, followed by University of San Carlos – Cebu, Asian Institute of Management, Mapua University and Mindanao State University – Marawi.
According to EduRank, it based its rankings on metrics such as citations in academic publications, alumni popularity, and other reference databases.
Full Story at: UP Diliman is top PH university — EduRank | Inquirer News
