Rody belies rift with pastor-pal

QUIBOLOY was boxed out by Duterte’s cordon sanitaire. GRIG MONTEGRANDE

DAVAO CITY—To presumptive President-elect Rodrigo Duterte, all is well between himself and close friend Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.

In a press conference on Saturday evening, Duterte said he found the reports of his supposal falling out with Quiboloy absurd, insisting his relationship with the televangelist had not changed.

On Friday, Mike Abe, Quiboloy’s spokesperson, was quoted in reports as saying the religious leader had not talked to Duterte since May 10, as people surrounding the incoming president had set up a cordon sanitaire around him that blocked their communication lines.

Abe said the sad part was that Quiboloy, considered Duterte’s spiritual adviser, was left out of the consultation process in choosing members of the Cabinet.

“Since Day One (after election day), he did not receive a call,” Abe said of Quiboloy.

Abe said Quiboloy was also saddened by the fact that members of Duterte’s Cabinet were not wisely selected.

“There should be a correct process,” he said.

Christopher Go, Duterte’s executive assistant, however, said there was regular communication between the incoming president and Quiboloy’s aide.

Go said Quiboloy’s messages were directly communicated by his aide, which Go immediately relayed to Duterte.

Go said Duterte was with Quiboloy on the evening of May 9, Election Day, until dawn of May 10.

But Quibble’s camp said the pastor was stood up by Duterte on May 19, after they had agreed to meet at the Glory Mountain compound—Quiboloy’s prayer mountain near Mt. Apo.

“Pastor Quiboloy thought he and the mayor would finally meet. He waited on the prayer mountain but Mayor Duterte didn’t arrive,” Abe told the Inquirer Sunday.

Asked if his rift with Duterte had prompted Quiboloy to go on retreat, Abe said: “It’s possible but Pastor Quiboloy goes on prayer and fasting regularly.”

Duterte and Quiboloy, founder of the homegrown Christian sect Kingdom of Jesus Christ the Name Above Every Name, have been friends for over 30 years.

Quiboloy endorsed Duterte for president, promising the support of his 6.5 million followers worldwide.

Canceled meeting

Abe said Quiboloy thought he and Duterte would finally see each other on May 19 after the pastor’s staff received a message from Go that Duterte would be borrowing Quiboloy’s helicopter.

“We were told that Mayor Duterte would be coming to the prayer mountain. And so Pastor Quiboloy immediately went there to wait for the mayor,” Abe said.

But after a while—Abe could not say how long Quiboloy waited—Duterte’s camp sent a message canceling the trip to the prayer mountain.

Abe said Quiboloy’s staff was certain it was Go who sent them the request for the helicopter.

“That has always been our practice. Bong Go would text or call Pastor Quiboloy’s staff whenever Mayor Duterte wanted to borrow the pastor’s helicopter or plane,” Abe said.

Duterte expressed his gratitude to Quiboloy for his continuing support not just for himself but for Davao City.

He said that when he needs to, he will borrow Quiboloy’s jets and helicopters, which the evangelist had offered for Duterte’s use “with no strings attached.”

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