MANILA, Philippines — It will be best to let President Rodrigo Duterte speak for himself if Pastor Apollo Quiboloy will remain as his spiritual adviser amid the sex trafficking charges hounding the religious figure, acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles said Friday.
Nograles made the remark after Duterte’s close ally and spiritual adviser Quiboloy was indicted for sex trafficking in the United States.
“We’ll wait for President’s statement regarding that. Bago pa lang itong development na ito. Hayaan na lang natin na magsalita si Pangulo tungkol dyan,” Nograles said in a press briefing when asked if Quiboloy will stay as Duterte’s spiritual adviser.
(The developments are just fresh. Let’s allow President Duterte to speak on that.)
Nonetheless, Nograles stressed that the Philippine government has been consistent in its fight against sex trafficking.
“The government has been constant in its efforts against trafficking in general especially sex trafficking,” Nograles said.
“Lahat yan, the DOJ (Department of Justice) and whole Task Force Against Trafficking, naka-full force yan. Ginagawa nila ang dapat at nararapat,” he added.
(The DOJ together with the whole Task Force Against Trafficking is in full force. They are doing everything that should be done.)
United States prosecutors on Thursday announced sex trafficking charges against Quiboloy, alleging that girls and young women were coerced to have sex with him.