FORMER President Rodrigo Duterte has acknowledged his close friendship with fugitive Pastor Apollo Quiboloy but denied harboring the wanted religious leader.
In a 19-second social media video, Duterte responded to those questioning his involvement, asking if they believed he would hide the pastor.
“I’m a loyal friend ofcourse sasabihin nilang tinatago ko si Pastor [Apollo] Quiboloy kaya nga ano sa tingin ninyo?” Duterte said.
He reiterated his earlier call for Quiboloy to surrender peacefully to authorities to avoid further conflict.
Quiboloy, facing charges of sexual abuse, child abuse, and human trafficking, has vowed to resist arrest until a court warrant is issued. He served as Duterte’s spiritual adviser during the latter’s presidency and has been a close friend since Duterte’s time as mayor of Davao City.
Earlier, the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) announced Duterte’s appointment as administrator of Quiboloy’s properties.
Following a police raid on Quiboloy’s properties to serve an arrest warrant, Duterte and the KOJC condemned the authorities’ actions, calling the deployment of forces “overkill” and “excessive” where the compound’s property was damaged and some members injured.
Last week, Vice President Sara Duterte appealed for “reasonable, defensible, and humane enforcement” of the law following the June 10 raids on the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) to serve the arrest warrant against Pastor Apollo Quiboloy and five others.
