President Duterte said the retirement home he received as a gift from Pastor Apollo Quiboloy of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ led to allegations of graft against him.
Duterte made the statement during his interview with Quiboloy on SMNI aired Tuesday evening.
During the interview, Duterte said his critics, particularly former senator Antonio Trillanes IV, accused him of anomalous transactions after he received the house from Quiboloy.
However, Duterte explained the house was technically not his yet.
"Ang title niyan nasa sa developer pa kaya hindi ko mailagay doon (The title is still with the developer that's why I haven't transferred it to my name yet)," he said.
"Bakit ko ilagay na hindi ko pa man --- hindi pa ako nag-retire eh ang usapan namin ni Pastor, pag-retire ako doon ako titira (Why would I transfer it to my name when I haven't retired yet? My agreement with the Pastor is I will live there when I retire there)," he added.
"Akala siguro nila nakuha ko 'yong maganda na bahay diyan dahil sa kurakot. Sabi ko nga noon sa kanila 'bigay ni Pastor 'yan.' (Perhaps they thought I got that beautiful house there because of corruption. I told them that the Pastor gave it to me)," he continued.
Presidential Decree No. 46, prohibits any public official or employee, whether of the national or local governments, from receiving gifts or any valuable thing on any occasion, including Christmas, when such gift "is given by reason of his official position." It likewise states that it is punishable by law for private persons to give, or offer to give, any gift, present, or other valuable things to any public official or government employee.
Quiboloy, for his part, defended his gifts to the President.
"That is our friendship. Sila naman sinasabi (They are saying), 'That's graft.' Sabi ko anong klaseng mga tao ito, may puso ba kayo (I said what kind of people are you, don't you have a heart)?" he said.
"Our mayor is doing his job and he never of himself. Who will think for him na may madisente man lang siyang matitirahan (to have at least a decent home to live in)? We are blessed," he added.
Before assuming the presidency in 2016, President Duterte admitted receiving gifts from Quiboloy. They, however, reportedly had a spat after Duterte refused the latter's help in selecting Cabinet members and only mended ties after the elections in 2019.