Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 6) — A legal counsel of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy said the cases his client is currently facing are indirect attacks against President Rodrigo Duterte, considering how close the two are.
“The only logical reason here is that they are using the closeness of Pastor Quiboloy with President Duterte para gibain indirectly si Pangulong [to indirectly target President] Duterte,” Atty. Ferdy Topacio said at a televised briefing Sunday.
Topacio questioned the timing of the charges, asking why it was only when Duterte came to power when the charges against Quiboloy arose.
“Bakit po nung hindi pa pangulo si Pangulong Duterte ay wala naman kayong naririnig na ganitong akusasyon laban kay Pastor Quiboloy? It was only in 2016 na nag-umpisa itong kung anu-anong mga trumped up charges ang inihahain laban kay Pastor Quiboloy.”
[Translation: Why was it that before President Duterte, there were no accusations against Pastor Quiboloy? It was only in 2016 when these trumped up charges surfaced.]
When Topacio was asked what the US would gain from “destroying” Duterte, he said it would affect the vice presidential bid of his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte and her running mate, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos.
“Indirectly it is undermining the candidacy of Sara Duterte. Indirectly it might be undermining the candidacy of Bongbong Marcos, or whichever candidate the United States does not want to win in this country.” he said.
Quiboloy has endorsed the Bongbong Marcos-Sara Duterte tandem for the May polls. He also endorsed the elder Duterte in the 2016 elections.
On Saturday, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation released a poster saying Quiboloy was on the most wanted list for “his alleged participation in a labor trafficking scheme that brought church members to the United States, via fraudulently obtained visas, and forced the members to solicit donations for a bogus charity, donations that actually were used to finance church operations and the lavish lifestyles of its leaders.”
Two others were included in the wanted list for their alleged participation in the labor trafficking scheme.
Topacio said the poster was “blown out of proportion” and urged the public to be prudent.
“Let us be careful…Let us be prudent. There is a process before everything comes before the court…Huwag tayong maging complicit sa isang obviously orchestrated effort to destroy Pastor Quiboloy, and indirectly, the present administration for political effect,” he said
He said there was no need to ask the public for information on Quiboloy’s whereabouts as he was not in hiding.
“I think this is designed to humiliate, to embarrass the pastor and the members of the Kingdom (of Jesus Christ). This is a despicable act,” he said.
Topacio added they would be going after those who would publish libelous statements against Quiboloy.
“We are serving warning to everyone that any libelous statements in all platforms…will be dealt with to the fullest extent of the law. No one should underestimate our resolve to protect the interests of Pastor Quiboloy,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Gabriela party-list issued a statement calling on the Department of Justice to issue a hold departure order against Quiboloy.
“Malaking hamon sa Duterte regime at maging sa Bongbong-Sara tandem na huwag kanlungin si Quiboloy, lalo’t inendorso niya ang tandem ng administrasyon kamakailan [This is a big challenge to the Duterte regime, as well as the Bongbong-Sara tandem to not coddle Quiboloy, especially after his recent endorsement]. They are complicit in coddling the wanted sex trafficker and in causing further injury to those victims who have come forward to expose Quiboloy’s crimes,” said Rep. Arlene Brosas.
She urged the DOJ to do whatever was necessary even if it was against the President’s wishes.
