- Apologetic VP Sara regrets convincing Quiboloy followers to vote for President Marcos Jr.
VICE PRESIDENT Sara Duterte penned an apology letter on Sunday to the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) members for convincing them to vote for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the 2022 presidential elections.
“Nais ko ring humingi ng kapatawaran sa lahat ng miyembro, deboto at bumubuo ng Kingdom of Jesus Christ sa paghikayat at pakiusap ko sa inyong iboto si Bongbong Marcos Jr. noong 2022,” Duterte said in the statement posted on her social media page.
Marcos and Duterte ran in tandem — as president and vice president, respectively — under the UniTeam ticket in the 2022 national elections.
However, just two years removed from the successful campaign, Duterte clarified that the UniTeam was formed to win the 2022 elections.
To recall, Duterte resigned as the education secretary effective July 19.
“Nawa’y mapatawad ninyo ako. You deserve better. Filipinos deserve better,” the vice president wrote.
Duterte issued the statement following the 16-hour search for KOJC leader, Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, in the compound on Saturday.
While she does not object to the implementation of the arrest warrant provided it is lawful, she said “gross abuse of police power” against KOJC members must not be tolerated.
She condemned what she described as a “takeover” of the police personnel in the compound which led to the “harassment of religious worshipers, the abuse of minors, and the unnecessary loss of life.”
Police Regional Office XI on Saturday confirmed the death of a KOJC member, Edwin Escubido Cababat, 51, who was declared dead on arrival after losing consciousness while manning the compound.
However, PRO XI clarified Cababat’s death is not related to the ongoing implementation of the warrant of arrest on Quiboloy as he already had an underlying medical condition.
KOJC lawyer Israelito Torreon also confirmed that Cababat was one of the five people who had cardiac arrest, the other four were successfully brought to the hospital.
Meanwhile, he said a total of 16 were reportedly injured.
“These acts are not only a blatant violation of Constitutionally-protected rights but a betrayal of the trust that we, Filipinos, place in the very institution sworn to protect and serve us,” Duterte said.
Duterte questioned whether the connection of Quiboloy to the Dutertes might have influenced the “unjust force” used during the arrest warrant implementation.
“Hindi ko rin maiwasang matanong sa sarili kung ang paggamit ba ng di pangkaraniwang pwersa at di makatarungang pang-aabuso Sa ordinaryong Pilipino, upang maipatupad ang naturang warrant of arrest, ay dahil sa ang akusado ay isang kilalang Duterte-supporter,” the vice president added.
The search resumed at 6 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 25.
