Former President Rodrigo Duterte has denied that he and his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, once received firearms from Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder Apollo Quiboloy, as accused by a Senate witness.
“Kami magtanggap ng baril kay Pastor Apollo Quiboloy? Ako pa mag-deliver sa kaniya ng kanyon bukas, o machine gun,” Duterte said in jest at a press conference in Davao City on Tuesday night, as reported by Unang Balita on Wednesday.
(We received guns from Pastor Apollo Quiboloy? It might be that I give him a cannon or a machine gun tomorrow.)
The former leader also described the accusation as “silly.”
“Bakit pa si Pastor ang magbigay ng baril sa akin? Saan siya magkuha? Kung magsabi siya wala siyang baril, bigyan ko siya,” Duterte said.
(Why would Pastor give me guns? Where would he get them? If he tells me that he has no gun, I will give him.)
A former landscaper of Quiboloy identified only as “Rene” testified before a Senate committee on February 19 that he once witnessed Duterte and his daughter receiving “bags of guns” from the controversial religious leader in Davao City.
Vice President Duterte had dismissed the claim as mere “attacks” against her, possibly by those who want to be the next president of the country. She also said that she will not be surprised if there are more testimonies against her in the future.
Quiboloy and KOJC are being investigated by the Senate in connection with alleged sexual abuses and human trafficking activities.
The Senate has already issued a subpoena against Quiboloy, who has denied the accusations against him and expressed no interest in participating in the chamber’s probe.
In his press conference, Duterte said a subpoena cannot compel Quiboloy to attend the Senate hearing, according to the Unang Balita report.
Duterte also said he does not know where Quiboloy is hiding. —KBK, GMA Integrated News
