By Liza Soriano

MANILA — Senator Ronald Dela Rosa has called on President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to help bring back a sense of normalcy to the lives of members of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC).

The senator made this appeal during a hearing held at the Sangguniang Panlungsod in Davao City.

“I hope President Bongbong Marcos is listening. I am appealing to you, Mr. President. Please listen to these people. Restore the normal lives of not only the KOJC members but also your policemen,” Dela Rosa urged.

The former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief also voiced concern for the policemen tasked with serving the warrant of arrest against KOJC Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.

“These officers are coming from other regions. They’ve been here for days without proper rest, meals, or sleep, and without a decent place to bathe,” Dela Rosa noted.

“I’m appealing to you, Mr. President. Please take action. Don’t close your mind. You seem willing to sacrifice everything just to catch Pastor Quiboloy. That’s all I ask. I hope you are listening,” he added.

ia/mnm

By Liza Soriano

MANILA — Senator Ronald Dela Rosa supported the decision of Vice President Sara Duterte to step down from her post as Department of Education Secretary, believing that her decision was “well thought of.”

“I have known VP Sara since she was little, and I have always admired her selflessness and unconditional love for our country,” Dela Rosa said.

“Whatever her reason may be for resigning as DepEd Secretary, I believe that it was well thought out. I believe it was a choice that took into consideration the best interest of our people, as has always been characteristic of her. Of that I am sure,” he added.

The senator said he will continue to support the Vice President and her future decisions to better serve the country.

“I hope she finds peace and comfort in her present situation. Whatever future decisions she is going to make to better serve the country, regardless of function and position, I am always here to support her,” Dela Rosa said.

He said he “fully trusts” that she will continue to fulfill her mandate as the Vice President of the Philippines and help uplift the lives of every Filipino.

Duterte announced her resignation on Wednesday (19 June 2024).

(el Amigo/mnm)

By Liezelle Soriano

MANILA — Senator Ronald Dela Rosa on Tuesday (May 7, 2024) dared former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV to follow through with the International Criminal Court (ICC) once the arrest warrant was issued.

“Go ahead, make my day, Mr. Trillanes! Sige kang ngalngal [nang] ngalngal dyan ng ICC. Sige – go ahead. Kahit sumama ka pa, mag-serve ng warrant, ikaw mag-posas sa akin,” Dela Rosa said during a press conference.

This was in response to Trillanes’ statement that the ICC would issue a warrant against Duterte and Dela Rosa on the issue of the war on drugs by June or July.

Trillanes mentioned that the warrant might be issued through Interpol.

“Kung idadaan sa Interpol ‘yung warrant of arrest, kahit na hindi tayo miyembro ng ICC pero miyembro tayo ng Interpol. May international agreement tayo,” he said.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. earlier stated that the ICC had no jurisdiction over the Philippines and that his government would not cooperate in its investigation regarding the war on drugs during the previous administration.

(el Amigo/MNM)

By Liza Soriano

MANILA — Senator Ronald Dela Rosa has urged Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) Pastor Apollo Quiboloy to face the cases that were filed against him.
“Wala naman tayong ma-advice. Harapin niya ‘yung kinahaharap niyang kaso and let the wheels of justice roll. Mayroon tayong hustisya. Sana harapin niya para matapos na ‘yung gulo na yan,” Dela Rosa said.

The senator said that he has no communication with Quiboloy, however, he said that he has no choice but to face the charges against him.

“He has no choice… Harapin nya yan. Nandiyan yan, nakafile na kaso na yan. Otherwise, kung ayaw nya harapin, magtago sya ng pinaka-secure lugar na di siya makita. You cannot evade the long arm of the law. Hahanapin ka talaga, lalo na may standing warrant of arrest, Dela Rosa said.

Earlier, assistants of Quiboloy had surrendered to the authorities but later filed bail.

(el Amigo/MNM)

By Dang Samson Garcia

SENATORS Risa Hontiveros and Ronald Dela Rosa filed separate resolutions seeking to investigate alleged cases of rape, sexual abuse, forced labor and child marriage perpetrated by an alleged cult, as well as the alleged shabu laboratory in Socorro, Surigao del Norte.

In Senate Resolution 797, Hontiveros said the cult, identified as the Socorro Bayanihan Services, Inc., now known as Omega de Salonera, has been made to believe that one Jey Rence Quilario is the Messiah.

The organization has 3,650 members, including 1,587 children.

“Nakakakilabot ang nabuong kulto sa Surigao. Pero mas nakakakilabot at nakakagalit ang mga kaso ng panggagahasa, pananakit, at pilit na pagkakasal na ginawa sa mga menor de edad. We must put an end to this. As chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women and Children, and as a mother, I ask us not to allow this monstrosity to continue,” Hontiveros said.

“Last July, eight children ran away from the cult after repeated instances of abuse and exploitation. These children are in grave and present danger. Makapangyarihan at may impluwensya ang kulto. Ginagawa nila ngayon ang lahat para makuha mula sa LGU at DSWD ang mga bata. The children’s parents, who are still part of the cult, are asked to file petitions for habeas corpus, in order to recover the minors from the local government,” she added.

“Ang malala, nagtagumpay na sila sa isang bata at plano nilang isa-isahin ang mga nakatakas na bata hangga’t sa bumalik sa kulto. Ang mga bata na po mismo ang nagmamakaawa na huwag na silang ibalik doon. Bakit nga naman nilang gugustuhing bumalik sa isang komunidad, sa isang lider na nanloloko, nanggagahasa, at nananakit sa kanila?” the senator added.

Hontiveros also revealed that members of the cult were made to perform acts of forced labor under pain of physical punishment, and were also forced to surrender 40-60% of their social welfare benefits, such as 4Ps, senior citizen pensions, TUPAD, and AICS, to Quilario.

Meanwhile, Dela Rosa filed Senate Resolution 796 seeking to investigate the alleged shabu laboratory being maintained by the alleged cult.