Ex-Pres. Duterte denies coddling Quiboloy, wants no part in his legal problem

Former President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday night doused speculations that he is helping Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Apollo Quiboloy hide from authorities.

In a late-night press conference in Davao City, Duterte dared anybody to go to his house to look for Quiboloy, who is facing several charges including human trafficking.

“Ibuhos ko na lang ang pera ko kung makita niyo si Quiboloy sa bahay ko (I will give lots of money to anyone who can find Quiboloy in my house),” he said in jest.

Duterte also said he does not want to be part of Quiboloy’s legal problem.

“Sabihin mo kay Pastor, ‘Pastor, ikaw naman ang wanted. Huwag mo akong damayin dito’ (Tell the pastor, ‘Pastor, you’re the one who’s wanted, don’t drag me into this’),” he said.  

Quiboloy in Tamayong?

The former President also advised Quiboloy, who is his close friend, to remain in hiding if he believes that he would not get a “fair deal” under the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

“As a lawyer, I would say that you can go to court and fix your case and and post bail bond. That could be an option. Buut if you do not think that you will get the fair deal with this administration, talking about Marcos and everything, eh di ‘wag ka lumabas d’yan sa Tamayong (then don’t leave Tamayong),” said Duterte, referring to Tamayong Prayer Garden, which was developed by Quiboloy

“Nand’yan lang ‘yan sa Tamayong. Malaki lang ang Tamayong (He might be there in Tamayong, which is a big place),” he added.

Duterte, a former prosecutor, indicated that it would be hard for authorities to find Quiboloy in Tamayong as they would need separate search warrants for every house in the vicinity.

“Ang Tamayong, malaki ‘yan. Sa loob maraming bahay. Make sure na sa isang bahay nand’yan s’ya because for every bahay, it should be a different searc,” he said.

(Tamayong is a big place with many houses. Be sure that Pastor Quiboloy is in one of those houses because for every house you would need a different search warrant.)

While he mentioned Tamayong and described it as Quiboloy’s “refuge” and the KOJC compound near the Davao City airport, Duterte said he is not aware of Quiboloy’s exact whereabouts.

‘Profess my ignorance’

“Ngayon, tanungin niyo ako saan si Pastor? Gusto niyo malaman talaga? Ewan ko… (Ask me where is Pastor? You really want to know? I don’t know). I must profess my ignorance,” he said.

Asked about the possibility of Quiboloy surrendering to him, the former president said, “Hindi ko siya tatanggapin. Hindi ako ang authority. Hindi ako ang nagdadala ng warrant.”

(I will not accept him. I am not the authority. I don’t have the warrant.)

He also said that Quiboloy is an “educated” person who does not need his advice with regards to surrendering to authorities.

On Quiboloy’s accusation that the United States government, allegedly with help from Philippine government officials, is plotting to eliminate him through rendition, Duterte said he has advised the religious leader not to believe this.

But if confirmed to be true, Duterte said he told Quiboloy to call him.

Duterte as KOJC administrator

Being the administrator of KOJC properties, Duterte said he has to “oversee the management” and “preserve the kingdom [so it would] not go into waste” now that Quiboloy is hiding.

Quiboloy is facing non-bailable qualified human trafficking charges before a Pasig Court and charges under Section 5(b) of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act and under Section 10(a) of the same act before a Davao court. Warrants of arrest have been issued against him in relation to these cases.

The Senate likewise issued an arrest order against Quiboloy for repeatedly ignoring its investigation into his alleged involvement in human trafficking and sexual abuses within KOJC.

Last Wednesday, authorities visited the properties owned by Quiboloy to serve the arrest order released by the Senate and the Davao court against him but they did not find him.

In early March, a California court ordered the unsealing of the arrest warrants against Quiboloy and his co-accused in the KOJC leader’s case, which involves charges of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud, coercion, sex trafficking of children, conspiracy, and cash smuggling.

Quiboloy, who denied the allegations against him, is wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) over a string of charges he is facing in the US including conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud, and bulk cash smuggling. —KBK, GMA Integrated News