Duterte says several properties given by Quiboloy

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Presidential race frontrunner Rodrigo Duterte justified his having several properties and assets by saying evangelist Apollo Quiboloy had given them to him as gifts over their long friendship.

Duterte pointed out Quiboloy, pastor of the sect Kingdom of Jesus Christ the Name Above Every Name, even donated the use of his private jet and a helicopter for his campaign.

The Davao City mayor stressed these properties came from Quiboloy as a sign of their friendship that has lasted for more than three decades. 

“He donates it in the name of God, so I can work, so I have no fear,” Duterte said during Quiboloy’s television program late Monday. 

Duterte also admitted receiving many other “gifts” from Quiboloy but “he just wouldn’t tell what they are.”

Duterte, however, stressed that whatever Quiboloy gave him as gifts and donations were not worth billions.

Among other gifts, Quiboloy reportedly gave to Duterte three properties in the posh Woodridge Village in Barangay Maa here as well as another property in Royal Pine Subdivision. 

Duterte made the statement in response to allegations of Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV that the mayor had billions of undeclared assets, including over P211 million in the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) Julia Vargas branch in Pasig City.

The vice presidential candidate also accused Duterte and his family of amassing wealth as well as owning at least 40 properties in different parts of the country. 

While Duterte asked the BPI, through his lawyer Salvador Panelo, to disclose the current balance of one of his accounts, the bank asked for time to look into the matter, citing the Bank Secrecy Act.

Duterte denied the account had P211 million even as he previously said that it did contain less than that because rich friends made huge deposits as gifts for his birthday.

Presidential rival Manuel Roxas II described as “an act of cowardice” Duterte’s refusal to sign a waiver that would allow the opening of his bank accounts to validate the allegations.

“Mayor Duterte, why don’t you face the truth? Why are you hiding the truth?” he asked.

Roxas said the more Duterte delays his explanation of questionable wealth, the more people will doubt his sincerity to fight graft and corruption in government.

While Duterte can use all the legal maneuverings to sidestep the issue, Roxas said the truth will eventually come out.

Fictional

Panelo was also criticized for his role in counseling Duterte over the bank accounts.

Netizens pointed out Panelo was also legal counsel of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who is currently under hospital arrest facing plunder charges before the Sandiganbayan.

Panelo, however, said he would file charges against the BPI if it fails to issue certificates to attest that Duterte does not have P211 million as claimed by Trillanes.

Panelo said he was even thinking of conspiracy between Trillanes and the BPI in the failure to issue certification.

Panelo pointed out that Duterte, being a depositor of the bank, is entitled to get the certification upon request.

Duterte said the real loser in the Trillanes exposé was the trust of the people with the BPI.

He suspected Trillanes’ exposé came from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas or from someone in the Anti-Money Laundering Council. 

Duterte said Joseph de Mesa, the supposed source of Trillanes, was a fictional character invented by those behind the dirty tactics and black propaganda hurled at him.

During his campaign in Zamboanga City, Duterte described Trillanes as an “ingrate” whose education at the Philippine Military Academy was paid for by taxpayer’s money.

Duterte went on to describe Trillanes as a pawn of the Aquino administration.

In the same television program, Duterte said Trillanes has a “very sick mind” and acts like a “mad dog, askal (street dog)” in making such accusations.

“He pretends to be a very righteous man, but he’s not. He wants respect after he lost it,” he said.

A security threat

Duterte went on to describe Trillanes as the “Rasputin” of President Aquino, a threat to national security.

Duterte was referring to Gregory Rasputin, one of Russia’s most controversial and mysterious figures who posed as a holy man and destroyed the political image and reputation of the ruling royal family that led to the Bolshevik revolution.

He added that Trillanes should be charged with treason for dealing with China that resulted in the quick reclamation of an artificial island in the disputed Panatag Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.

Duterte said Trillanes sold the country to China and went there 16 times for backdoor channeling negotiations without the blessings of the Philippine government.

“After the 16 trips, China started to construct, there was no Navy that went there and the government was not acting,” Duterte said.

Duterte questioned Trillanes’ authority in conducting the back-channeling with China and accused President Aquino of being behind the trips.

Trillanes, on the other hand, said Duterte is the real national security threat.

The senator said he is validating reports that Duterte had links with the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed group, the New People’s Army.

Trillanes cited the supposed closeness of Duterte with CPP founding chairman Jose Ma. Sison, who expressed support for the Davao City mayor, according to reports. – With Roel Pareño, Aimee Shaw, Janvic Mateo, Robertzon Ramirez, Jaime Laude, Paolo Romero, Danny Dangcalan, Marvin Sy