VP Sara Duterte undeterred by ‘attacks possibly by presidential aspirants'

Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday dismissed the claim that she and her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, received "bags of guns" from Pastor Apollo Quiboloy as mere “attacks” against her, possibly by those who want to be the next president of the country. 

Duterte issued the statement following the revelation of an alias "Rene,” who claimed to be a former landscaper for Quiboloy at Glory Mountain, where he allegedly experienced abuse from the pastor himself.

Rene alleged that when Quiboloy arrived in the Glory Mountain via chopper, the latter carried along with him big bags containing various guns. He said that the Dutertes would sometimes go there and carry the same bags containing the guns when they left.

The Vice President said that she will not be surprised if there are more testimonies against her in the future. 

“Sa kasaysayan ng Pilipinas, naging kagawian na ang pag-atake at pagbato ng sari-saring isyu laban sa Bise Presidente. Marahil, sapagkat ang Bise Presidente ang tumatayong pangunahing hadlang sa mga nangangarap maging pangulo,” she said.

(In the history of the Philippines, it has become a norm to attack and make various issues against the Vice President. Perhaps, because it is the Vice President who stands as the main obstacle for those who aspire to become president.)

“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,” she added.

(I will not be surprised if there will be more cases, investigations, witnesses, allegations, attacks, and defamation against me in the coming days, weeks, months, and years.) 

Sara also said that she will just focus on her work and fulfill her sworn duty.

“Uunahin ko ang mga tunay na suliranin. Uunahin ko ang Pilipino,” she said. 

(I will focus on the real problems and I will put the Filipinos first.) 

In January, former Davao police officer Arturo "Arthur" Lascañas—an alleged member of the original Davao Death Squad (DDS)----also claimed that Sara Duterte was behind the “Oplan Tokhang” in Davao City.

Sara denied the accusation, saying that her name was only being dragged into the issue so that she will be included in the International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation into the Duterte administration’s drug war killings.

She also said that she will only face any accusations linking her to the Davao Death Squad before a Philippine court, lamenting that it was only when she was elected vice president that her name was associated with the controversial group. 

SMNI 

Meanwhile, the legal officer of Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) denied a witness’ claim during the Senate inquiry that their employees do not receive proper compensation and benefits. 

“We deny it. Properly compensated ang staff ng SMNI. And they are happy sa pamamalakad ng management,” lawyer Mark Tolentino said in Ian Cruz’s report on “24 Oras.''

(We deny it. The SMNI staff are properly compensated, and they are happy with the network management.)

The Senate has already required Quiboloy to attend its investigation into the alleged cases of large-scale human trafficking, rape, sexual abuse and violence, and child abuse within his religious group.

The House of Representatives has also issued a subpoena to Quiboloy, directing him to appear before the congressional inquiry into the call to revoke the franchise of Swara Sug Media Corporation, which operates SMNI. — with Sundy Locus/AOL/VBL, GMA Integrated News