By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Giving a chance to the spiritual adviser of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, the House Committee on Legislative Franchises will extend another invitation to Pastor Apollo Quiboloy of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) for its upcoming hearing.
Marikina City Rep. Stella Luz Quimbo said on Monday (December 11) that Quiboloy could provide information regarding the operation of Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI), being a former ultimate beneficial owner of the company.
“Bottom line lang naman is that meron namang siyang supisyenteng kaalaman ang gusto lang naman natin is to shed light on the matter, yun lang po,” said Quimbo during the House Committee on Legislative Franchises hearing.
Quiboloy was invited to last Monday’s hearing but only sent a letter to the committee.
“I have not been an officer of Suwara Sug Corp. for the time of the enactment of RA 11422 up to the present hence I respectfully sent my regrets for my absence in the hearing today,” Quiboloy explained in the letter.
It was learned that Suwara Sug Corp. is the legal name of SMNI.
The Marikina City lawmaker maintained that based on the documents, Quiboloy is still the ultimate beneficial owner of SMNI until April 2021.
RA 11422 was enacted into law in 2019.
Quimbo was also the administration ally who exposed that the Office of the Vice President (OVP) spent P125 million confidential funds in just 11 days in 2022.
On the other hand, Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel on December 6 said Swara Sug Media Corporation, which operates SMNI, allegedly violated at least three provisions of its franchise under Republic Act 11422.
He also noted that Swara Sug neither sought approval nor informed Congress that televangelist Apollo Quiboloy, who is wanted in the United States for alleged conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking, fraud, and cash smuggling, had transferred through succession his controlling interest in Swara Sug to a certain Marlon Acobo.
(ai/mnm)
