FILE PHOTOS Senator Manny Pacquiao and Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Manny Pacquiao on Wednesday said he will file a case against Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, a self-proclaimed “Appointed Son of God,” for spreading “fabricated” claims against him.
“Itong si Quiboloy, gumagawa ng issue na hindi po niya alam. Dapat hindi siya makikialam sa gobyerno. Mag-focus na lang po siya doon sa kanyang mga disipulo na naniniwala po sa kanya,” Pacquiao said in an interview over ABS-CBN News Channel.
“Hindi po tama yang ginagawa niya at ‘yan po ay pananagutan niya sa batas. Plano ko pong mag-file ng kaso against him dahil po sa kanyang paglabag, at gumagawa po siya ng kwento na hindi naman po totoo,” he added.
According to Pacquiao, Quiboloy had claimed that the senator was behind the “unfinished” Sarangani Sports Complex, which had a purported price tag of P3.5 billion.
“Patawarin ako ng Panginoon pero hindi po talaga ‘yan totoong pastor kasi gumagawa niya ng mga fabricated story. Yung video na kinunan nila, yung pinalabas nila, building po yoon nung maliit na bata pa ako, nung 1996 pa,” the senator said.
“Yung buildings na ipinatayo natin, hindi pinakita,” he added, saying that funding for sports facilities in Sarangani only amounted to P300 million to 500 million.
Pacquiao represented the province in the lower chamber of Congress before becoming a senator.
The senator had also earlier asked the Philippine National Police Anti-Cyber Crime Group to identify the owners and administrators of 27 social media platforms that carried or shared the “fake news” that linked him to corruption.
Pacquiao did not specify what case he will file against Quibiloy and said he will make a formal announcement once he is out of quarantine.
“Ako mismo magpa-file ng case against him,” he said.
The senator is quarantining with his family in a hotel in Pasay City after arrival from the United States following his fight against Cuban Yordenis Ugas in Las Vegas.