Vice President Sara Duterte shrugged off allegations made against her by a Senate witness that she received “bags of guns” from Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Apollo Quiboloy as she hit back at those with political ambitions in the next presidential polls.
Vice President Sara Duterte (OVP photo)
In a video message released on Tuesday, Feb. 20, the official did not directly deny the allegations made by a former landscaper at Quiboloy’s Glory Mountain in Davao City.
Instead, the Vice President said there was nothing surprising that she is now a target of attacks by those who dream to become president.
“Sa kasaysayan ng Pilipinas, naging kagawian na ang pag-atake at pagbato ng sari-saring isyu laban sa Bise Presidente (In the history of the Philippines, it has become a tradition to attack and throw issues against a Vice President),” she said.
“Marahil, sapagkat ang Bise Presidente ang tumatayong pangunahing hadlang sa mga nangangarap maging pangulo (Maybe because the Vice President is the primary hindrance for those who dream to become a president),” she added.
The former worker at Glory Mountain, located in Duterte’s hometown of Davao City and believed to be owned by avid Duterte-supporter Quiboloy, claimed that former president Rodrigo Duterte and the Vice President received bags containing firearms from the pastor.
But the country’s second highest official and former Davao City mayor said she expects more attacks to come in the coming days.
“Hindi ko ikakagulat kung dumami pa ang mga kaso, imbestigasyon, testigo, paratang, atake, at paninira laban sa akin sa mga susunod na araw, lingo, buwan, at mga taon (I will not be surprised if there would be more cases, investigations, witnesses, accusations, attacks, and defamation against me in the coming days, weeks, moths, and years),” she added.
The official stressed that she will simply spend her time fulfilling her duties as vice president.
“Naniniwala ako na may tamang panahon para sa lahat. Panahon ngayon ng aking pagtatrabaho. Tutuparin ko ang sinumpaang tungkulin (I believe there is a right time for everything. Now is the time to work. I will fulfill my duties),” she said.
“Uunahin ko ang mga tunay na suliranin. Uunahin ko ang Pilipino (I will prioritize the real problems. I will prioritize the Filipino).”
The Senate witness made the allegations during the second hearing of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality, which currently looks into issues of abuses and harassment within Quiboloy’s Church.