Netizens, as well as popular public opinion, have also contributed in making it difficult for senators to join Padilla’s move for a reversal of a Senate committee’s request to cite Quiboloy in contempt of the Senate.

Senator Cynthia Villar drew a lot of flak defending her decision to support the opposition to have Quiboloy arrested for refusing to appear in Senate hearings and confront witnesses who accused him of various acts of sexual and physical abuses.

“Kaibigan ko si pastor Quiboloy. Mabait siya sa aming pamilya. Nagtataka ako d’yan sa case na ;yan kaya medyo ;di ako naniniwala dyan sa case na yan,” said Villlar now has to defend herself from critics for standing up for friendship instead of the interest of the Senate and the public.

Public attention has also been trained at Senator Mark Villar, son of Cynthia, who has yet to respond to Padilla’s intense lobbying for support to Quiboloy.

Aside from Padilla and Villar, also signing the opposition to cite Quiboloy in contempt are Senators Imee Marcos and Bong Go.

Ejercito decided to withdraw his support to the pro-Quiboloy campaign a few hours after he signed his opposition for the arrest of the man who has been claiming to be the “appointed son of God.”

“After careful review of the facts, witness testimonies and additional information, such as the allegations of rape during the last committee hearing, I have decided to withdraw my signature today,” Ejercito said in a statement issued on Thursday (March 7) night.

He added: “Furthermore, my consultations have revealed storng precedents indicating that ongoing cases can still be heard and investigated in the Senate. This means Pastor Quiboloy will get an opportunity to present his side.”

The contempt charge was brought up during the latest hearing of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality chaired by Senator Risa Hontiveros.

Witnesses, mostly former followers of Quiboloy’s Kingdom of Jesus Christ sect, accused him of subjecting them to various sexual and physical abuses.

Quiboloy has refused to attend the hearings, claiming that he would rather face his accuser in the court of law. He also cited alleged death threats for remaining in hiding.

Padilla will be needing four more signatures among senators to prevent Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri from issuing a subpoena for Quiboloy’s arrest.