Duterte has not yet reached out to Quiboloy, says pastor’s camp

Evangelist Apollo Quiboloy was boxed out by incoming President Duterte’s cordon sanitaire. GRIG MONTEGRANDE/INQUIRER

DAVAO CITY—The camp of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy on Saturday denied reports that he had already spoken to incoming President Rodrigo Duterte.

Mike Abe, Quiboloy’s spokesperson, told INQUIRER.net that the pastor still had no communication with Duterte.

“Hindi totoo ’yan,” Abe said, referring to the reported meeting of Quiboloy and Duterte.

Abe said Quiboloy’s lines remained open to Duterte but the incoming president had not reached out to them.

He said the last time Duterte and Quiboloy spoke to each other was at 2 a.m. on May 10.

Quiboloy earlier said he was hurt after being sidelined by his long-time friend Duterte.

The pastor’s camp openly criticized the presumptive president-elect’s men, saying they had set up a cordon sanitaire around Duterte that left out his own spiritual adviser.

On Friday, the camp of Duterte said there was no “deliberate effort” to box out Quiboloy and extended their apologies to the pastor. RC