Duterte himself offered to look after Quiboloy properties

MANILA, Philippines — Former president Rodrigo Duterte has admitted it was he who volunteered to manage the properties of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) because his friend and sect leader Apollo Quiboloy “is distracted at the moment.”

Quiboloy is facing sex trafficking, fraud, conspiracy and bulk cash smuggling charges in the United States.

He was also cited in contempt by Sen. Risa Hontiveros, chair of the Senate committee on women, children, family relations and gender equality, for refusing to attend the committee hearing on the sexual abuse and human trafficking allegations against him.

Duterte yesterday said he offered to be the administrator of the KOJC properties to unburden his friend of its day-to-day operations.

“The present rumblings, I would say, would maybe distract the pastor with the day-to-day operation. It was I who offered na ‘Pastor, in the meantime that you are trying to figure out the things that you have to do or say regarding this present whatever... ako na muna ang magpatakbo (I will run things for now),’ ” Duterte said during an interview with vloggers.

Duterte, however, specifically requested that he be left out of the financial side of the group’s operation.

“Let me focus on the properties to see to it that it is preserved well for the congregation… the buildings and the properties which the kingdom owns,” he said.

Duterte also explained that he was chosen by Quiboloy because of their friendship. “Why me? Because I am his friend,” he said.

Duterte and Quiboloy met when the former was serving as a Davao City prosecutor.

Duterte said he used to have his firearms serviced by a guy who was living behind the church of Quiboloy in the city’s slum area.

As the church’s administrator, Duterte promised to “see to it that all Kingdom properties are preserved and taken care of.”

“It’s my way of helping my friend, of helping the Kingdom of Jesus Christ,” he said.

Duterte also added that he is paying his debt of gratitude to his friend who unhesitatingly helped him when he ran for public office. “If the opportunity is there to pay a debt of gratitude, seize it,” he said.

Rep. Rodge Gutierrez, meanwhile, said the designation of Duterte as