The pandemic did not prevent these two old friends to get together for an evening of good food, conversation, and prayer.
President Duterte ventured out of his Davao City residence Tuesday night, August 17, to catch up with his longtime friend Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.
Based on the photos released by Quiboloy on Facebook, Duterte was seen chatting with the religious leader over food and drinks during his visit at the Kingdom of Jesus Christ's headquarters in Davao City. The two friends kept the mood casual with Quiboloy regarding Duterte as "a very good friend.'
"He's my very good friend so anytime he wants to come and relax so we had a dinner tonight. We talked about many things," Quiboloy said in an interview over Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI).
Quiboloy said Duterte visit was also considered a "relaxation period for the President," noticing that his friend looked "haggard" and tired."
"This is a working president. He takes care of the affairs of the nation and we are so blessed to have him," Quiboloy said. "It was a good time for him to relax. We talked freely so it was good visit by our friend, my friend," he added.
Before wrapping up their reunion, Quiboloy prayed over the country's leader.
The last time these two friends were seen publicly together was last June. Duterte went to Quiboloy's headquarters and granted an interview over his television station.
The President, whose movement has been limited by his security team as a precaution against the coronavirus, has been staying in Davao City in the past few days. He held a meeting with some top government officials on pandemic response and delivered his Monday public address on various issues, including a tirade against the Commission on Audit, from Davao City.
Duterte's visit to Quiboloy Tuesday night was not announced by Malacañang. The Palace hardly releases the President's daily schedule except when he has major public engagements such as inauguration of government projects and arrival of coronavirus vaccines in the country.