Evangelist Apollo Quiboloy of Kingdom of Jesus Christ. INQUIRER file photo / GRIG MONTEGRANDE
Pastor Apollo Quiboloy is a private person and he can take care of himself, Malacañang said on Friday following reports that he was temporarily held in the United States.
A HawaiiNewsNow. com report on Thursday said that US authorities found $350,000 in cash as well as gun parts inside the private jet of Quiboloy at the Honolulu Airport.
READ: Quiboloy detained in Hawaii, $350K, gun parts found in private plane
Sought for comment, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Quiboloy could take care of himself but assured that the Philippine government was ready to help him as a Filipino if needed.
“Naku e wala naman kaming komento diyan dahil si pastor naman po ay isang pribadong indibidwal at dimuano e dahil meron siyang $350,000 e kaya naman niyang depensahan ang kanyang sarili,” Roque told reporters in Manila.
(We don’t have any comment on that because pastor is a private individual and for allegedly he has $350,000, he can manage to defend himself.)
“Pero siyempre po lahat ng Filipino na nagkakaroon ng problema sa kahit saan sa daigdig na ito e binibigyan din natin ng kahit anong proteksyon. Sinisigurado ang kanilang karapatan ay nasisiguro at lahat naman po yan ay binibigyan ng tulong ng ating consular officials,” he added.
(But of course most Filipinos all over the world who experience problems we need to extend protection. We make sure their rights are protected and everyone is being given assistance by the consular officials.)
Quiboloy is a close friend and supporter of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Asked about Duterte’s reaction, Roque said, “wala naman po kasi ang alam naman niya e talagang kayang alagaan ang sarili niya ni Pastor Quiboloy.”
(Nothing because he knows that Quiboloy can take care of himself.)
He said Duterte and Quiboloy have not talked after the incident.
Lawyer Israelito Torreon, spokesperson of Quiboloy, denied on Friday that the pastor was detained nor arrested in the US. /jpv
READ: Quiboloy was not detained, did not violate law in US – spokesman