Pastor Apollo Quiboloy holds a one-on-one interview with former President Rodrigo Duterte in March 2022. (Screengrab from SMNI News Youtube channel)
MANILA, Philippines — Former president Rodrigo Duterte denied that he and his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte received bags of guns from alleged sex offender Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.
Duterte made the pronouncement in response to an allegation thrown by a former Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) member who claimed that he saw the Dutertes visit Quiboloy’s property carrying a bag of firearms as they left.
“Kami magtanggap ng baril kay Pastor Quiboloy? Ako pa ang magdeliver sa kaniya ng cannon bukas o machine gun, that’s a very stupid preposition,” said Duterte in a press conference late Tuesday evening.
(We’re receiving guns from Pastor Quiboloy? I’d be the one to deliver to him a cannon or a machine gun tomorrow, that’s a very stupid proposition.)
“It’s silly, bakit magbigay si pastor ng baril sa’kin. Saan siya kukuha? Kung magsabi siya wala siyang baril bigyan ko siya,” the former president added.
(It’s silly, why would the Pastor give me a gun? Where would he get it? If he says he has none, I’d be the one to give him one.)
Duterte admitted that he already owns 500 registered firearms, as he proclaimed himself an avid gun collector.
“I have about, almost, 500 firearms registered. Collector’s category ako eh. Ibig sabihin, bili ako ng bili, pero hindi ko magamit (It means I keep buying, but I can’t use it),” said Duterte.
His daughter also previously denied the allegations, dismissing them as mere “attacks” stemming from her standing as the Vice President of the country.