President Duterte is considered a hero and a giant slayer like David after making a huge difference in the country, according to religious leader Apollo Quiboloy.
Quiboloy heaped praises on the President and further commended him for making more contributions to the country's growth compared to national hero Jose Rizal.
Duterte recently visited Quiboloy's place in Davao City and granted an interview over the latter's television station. The interview was aired on SMNI network Tuesday evening, June 8.
"Para sa akin, Mayor, hindi kita binobola kasi even (For me, I'm not kidding you mayor)--- even in our private conversation I am telling you this without anyone hearing about it, you are a Philippine hero," Quiboloy told the President.
"Heroic lahat 'yong ginawa mo eh. Binangga mo lahat ang problema ng bayan na hindi kayang banggain ng iba (You've done all heroic things. You dealt with the country's problems that were not knocked down by others) because they were just pleasing the people, all the people that they can get favor of," he said.
Quiboloy said Duterte was different compared to other government leaders, saying he is "more than blessed" and would be "written in the annals of Philippine history.” He then compared Duterte's achievements to those of Rizal.
"You made a big difference since Jose Rizal," he said, citing Duterte's accomplishments in the fight against illegal drugs and corruption, infrastructure development, among others.
"Si Rizal made a difference in our country from the foreigners. Pero 'yong nagawa niya maliit lang 'yon sa nagawa mo ngayon (But his accomplishments were small compared to what you achieved today) for this modern times, for the Filipino nation," he added.
Impressed by the President's achievements, Quiboloy is convinced that Duterte should try running for vice president in next year's elections. He claimed that many people were also clamoring for Duterte to seek the elective post.
"Kaya para sa akin, six years is ang liit --- maliit talaga pero (Six years are short but) I don't want you to suffer more because of… Pero naharap mo na eh, nakaya mo talaga eh, nabangga mo talaga 'yong mga higante (but you have faced them, slayed the giants)," Quiboloy said.
"You are like David who have slain all of these giants that take us back to undeveloped status," he added, referring to the young shepherd who fought the biblical giant Goliath.
President Duterte, who campaigned on a promise to wipe out illegal drugs and corruption, will end his six years in office in June 2022. The administration party has asked him to seek the vice presidency but Duterte preferred to retire from politics next year.