DAVAO CITY – Former President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, March 12, urged supporters of Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder Pastor Apollo Quiboloy to continue holding peaceful rallies in the country in support of their leader.
FORMER President Rodrigo R. Duterte delivers a speech during a rally in support of Kingdom of Jesus Church founder Pastor Apollo Quiboloy on Tuesday, March 12, at Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila. Vice President Sara Duterte and Senators Ronald dela Rosa, Bong Go, and Robin Padilla also attended the event. (Arnold Quizol)
Speaking before the Laban Kasama ang Bayan Prayer Rally at Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila, Duterte asked Quiboloy’s supporters to refrain from holding rallies near Malacañang to avoid any untoward incidents.
“Let us make this rally peaceful in the meantime. Let’s just hold a demonstration here. Let’s not go all the way to Malacañang. There are national treasures that might get damaged. Those belonged to the Filipino people, not to them,” Duterte said.
He said that everything inside Malacañang, such as paintings and other handicrafts, are treasures of the Filipino people, made by Filipinos.
The former President advised the protesters to avoid bloodshed and not to antagonize the military and police. He said these men are reasonable people and only do their work to ensure safety, peace, and order in their areas of responsibility.
Duterte, a long-time trusted friend of the Davao-based preacher Quiboloy, cautioned the public to watch out for those who want to amend the Constitution.
He said Marcos and his allies are trying the Constituent Assembly (Con-Ass) by Congress. “I’ve heard they started discussing the Constituent Assembly yesterday (Monday, March 11). It is more straightforward as there is no objection,” Duterte said, adding that if the Con-Ass succeeds, things will change, and everyone could suffer a long, miserable life.
Duterte emphasized that only two presidents in history are eager to change the Constitution, and they are Marcos Sr. and Marcos Jr. He said the “certain provisions and other reasons” to amend the Constitution are only their excuses, but their motive is term extension.
In attendance during the rally was Vice President and Department of Education Secretary Sara Z. Duterte, Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, Sen. Robin Padilla, Atty. Salvador Panelo, and Duterte supporters from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Quiboloy’s supporters and followers held a prayer rally to express their solidarity with their leader after he declined to participate in the Senate investigation on him and the KOJC. He said that he would solely address the accusations against him in court.