Senator Manny Pacquiao, saying this time he was fighting the proliferation of fake news, filed before the Makati Prosecutors Office Tuesday a P100-Million libel case against cult leader Apollo Quiboloy, the self-proclaimed “Owner of the Universe” and “Appointed Son of God.”
The Senator was prompted to go to court on learning about television and social media posts made by Quiboloy, who is known to be President Duterte’s spiritual adviser and owner of Sonshine Media Network International, where Quiboloy claimed Pacquiao misused funds for the unfinished Sarangani Sports Training Center that eventually became a “white elephant.”
Moreover, Quiboloy was also reported to have claimed that Pacquiao’s project cost the government P3.5 billion, providing pictures of “dilapidated bleachers and overgrown grass.” In his 13-page complaint, Sen. Pacquiao asked the court that “Quibuloy be made to pay P100 million in damages plus attorney’s fees for using his power and influence to spread fake news and false information.”
The lawmaker lamented that Quiboloy “used this deliberate falsehood to brainwash the minds of the Filipino public, recklessly propagating lies to blacken the image and reputation of an honest public servant.” Sen. Pacquiao also pointed out that Quiboloy even had “the audacity to quote the Holy Scripture in furtherance of his lies, misleading his flock, and confusing the public, with the end in view of blackening another’s reputation.”
The complainant rued that Quiboloy’s statements “are far from hallow. They are criminal in nature and cannot go unpunished,” it added. At the same time, Pacquiao also recalled that before his trip to the United States for an international boxing match, “a video was leaked to the public where he was heard complaining about the worsening corruption in the country.” He surmised that the video apparently incensed President Duterte who challenged Pacquiao to prove his claim that corruption under his administration has worsened.
“My statement relating to the prevalence of corruption in the Philippines under the current administration and even at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic is based on findings from documents and information I obtained from concerned citizens,” the Senator said. The Senator recalled that “prior to leaving for the USA for my world championship fight while representing flag and country, I had a press conference on July 3, 2021, where I showed further proof of the prevalence graft and corruption in this administration.”
He added that right after his press conference, Quiboloy appeared on television in SMNI and on social media where it was alleged that Pacquiao embezzled public funds for the construction of the Sarangani Sports Training Center which was allegedly funded with P3.5 Billion.
Pacquiao said it, however, turned out that the P3.5 Billion was actually appropriated for the Philippines Sports Training Center in Bataan and the Senator did not have anything to do with the project. He also recalled that the dilapidated buildings that were also shown in Pastor Quiboloy’s video were actually “old facilities” at the Sarangani Province Sports Complex.
If he wins the case, Sen. Pacquiao pledges to use the 100-Million moral damages in building homes and helping the poor Filipinos.
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