HOUSE Deputy Majority Leader and Iloilo 1st District Rep. Janette Garin has underscored the need for former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte to explain why he has been tapped by Pastor Apollo Quiboloy as the potential administrator of his assets.
“Getting a former President as a possible administrator of your properties and your wealth can be misconstrued as hiding something, kasi (because) you have to get somebody powerful to do that,” Garin responded to a reporter’s question during a press conference Tuesday.
“So siguro nahiya lang din si [Duterte] at tinanggap niya. Either nahiya siya na sabihing hindi o kung he’s doing it as a friend or he is doing it as a lawyer. So, all of these questions can properly be answered by the former president,” she noted.
The pastor is facing before the Department of Justice (DOJ) complaints of alleged sexual abuse of a minor and qualified human trafficking. He is Duterte’s spiritual adviser.
Quiboloy–known as the self-proclaimed “Appointed Son of God”–hasn’t attended inquiries in the House and Senate debate the issuance of separate subpoenas against him.
It was amid these summons from lawmakers that it was floated that Duterte could potentially become steward of the pastor’s assets and properties.
Makabayan member, ACT Teachers Party-List Rep. France Castro has raised concerns that Duterte’s connection with the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) church leader in such capacity could lead to “money laundering issues”.
“Now the best person to answer that issue should be the former president. Maganda rin talagang lumabas si former president at sagutin niya,” Garin said.
At any rate, the deputy majority leader says Quiboloy’s choice of the soon-to-be 79-year-old Duterte as assets caretaker was quite the shock to her.
“Well personally I myself as a politician is quite surprised with that bold act,” she said.
“Kasi siyempre may imbestigasyon, may mga alegasyon ng tax evasion or ill-gotten wealth or whatever the sources of the money of the businesses of Pastor Quibuloy, magugulat ka why get a former president?” she asked.
