Apollo Quiboloy
INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
MANILA, Philippines — Senators Robin Padilla, Ronald “Bato dela Rosa, and Bong Go have vowed to show their unending support for Apollo Quiboloy despite rape and abuse allegations hounding the beleaguered sect leader.
The three senators, who are also former President Rodrigo Duterte’s close political allies, made their pronouncements when they attended the pro-Quiboloy prayer rally — “Laban Kasama ang Bayan” – held in Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila on Tuesday evening.
‘Walang iwanan’
For his part, Padilla said his friendship with Quiboloy is unending.
“Alam niyo po, itong samahan na ito ay walang iwanan ito. Ako po — katulad ng sinabi ni Tatay Digong ang kaibigan ay kaibigan ‘yun. Lalo na kapag kakampi mo pa. Hindi ko po makakalimutan ang ibinigay sa aking suporta — lalong lalo na ni Pastor Quiboloy,” Padilla told the religious leader’s supporters who then went wild upon hearing the senator’s remarks.
(You know, in this companionship we leave no one behind. For me — like what Tatay Digong said, a friend is a friend. Especially when he’s on your side. I will never forget the support given to me — especially by Pastor Quiboloy.)
Padilla earlier admitted that he sees Quiboloy as a “victim and a hero,” noting that the alleged abuser fought the New People’s Army.
“Hindi natin pwedeng iwan ang taong nagsakripisyo sa bayan. Kaya po mga mahal kong kababayan, hinihingi ko po na sana huwag nating iwan si Pastor,” Padilla emphasized.
(We cannot leave the person who sacrificed for the country. That’s why my dear countrymen, I’m asking that we don’t leave Pastor.)
To recall, it was also Padilla who initially blocked the Senate panel on women’s contempt order against Quiboloy. He, however, failed to gather enough signatures to completely trash Senator Risa Hontiveros’ bid.
‘Kaibigan kahit masama ang panahon’
Similar to Padilla’s remarks, dela Rosa’s message of support centered on friendship.
“Alam niyo, nandito kami ngayon ni Senator Bong Go — at ang ating mga kasamahan [ay] lahat nandito – dahil gusto namin ipakita kay Pastor Quiboloy na ang pagiging kaibigan ay hindi lamang kaibigan sa magandang panahon. Kaibigan tayo kahit masama ang panahon,”
(You know, Senator Bong Go and I are here today — and our colleagues [are] all here — because we want to show Pastor Quiboloy that being friends is not just friends in good times. We are friends even when times are hard.)
Go, on the other hand, said he and his fellow senators are all supporting ex-chief executive Duterte for all his stances.
“Mahal niyo si Pangulong Duterte? Kapag mahal niyo sa Pangulong Duterte, mahal natin ang ating kapwa Pilipino. Gaya ng sinasabi ko noon sa inyo, ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo sa ating Panginoon,” said Go.
(Do you love President Duterte? When you love President Duterte, we love our fellow Filipinos. As I used to tell you, service to people is service to our Lord.)
Both chambers of Congress are conducting separate probes on Quiboloy’s alleged crimes as well as his corporation Sonshine Media Network International.
The two houses have likewise ordered the physical appearance of the controversial religious leader, but he has yet to comply with such orders.