PERSONAL na naghain ng libel case sa Makati Prosecutor’s office si Senator Manny Pacquiao laban kay Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy, ang Executive Pastor ng The Kingdom of Jesus Christ at Chairman ng Sonshine Media Network International.
Ito’y kaugnay sa P3.5 billion na Saranggani Sports Training Center na si Pacquiao mismo ang nagsabi sa isang 2019 online news article.
Sa mga programa nito sa telebisyon ay tinanong ni Pastor Apollo si Pacquiao kung ano ang kinalaman nito sa proyekto at kung nasaan na ang pondo para dito.
Pero tila iba ang dating dito ng Senador.
“Alam mo disturb ako masyado before the fight, marami siyang nilabas at napapanood ko sa Amerika at madaming nagtatanong sa akin kung totoo yan,”ayon kay Pacquiao.
P100 million naman ang hinihinging danyos ni Pacquiao laban kay Pastor Apollo.
Bagama’t hindi pa natatanggap ang reklamo na isinampa ni Pacquiao ay inihayag ng legal team ni Pastor Apollo na handa itong tugunin at sagutin ang mga akusasyon o libel case na isinampa.
“Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy has yet to receive a copy of the cyber libel complaint filed by Senator Manny Pacquiao before the Makati City Prosecutor’s Office. Nevertheless, Pastor Quiboloy is ready to respond to the accusations against him,”ayon kay Atty. Marie Dinah Tolentino- Fuentes, Legal Counsel ni Pastor Apollo.
Aniya, malinaw na ang nais ni Pastor Apollo na linawin ni Pacquiao ang isyu bilang duly elected public official.
“We maintain that every citizen has the right to inquire, to hear, to speak and make commentaries about the actions of public officials. The interest of society and the maintenance of good government demand a full discussion of public affairs. In a democratic society, public officials like Senator Manny Pacquiao should expect criticisms and critical evaluation of their performances from the citizens whom they are expected to serve. As Thomas Jefferson would put it, “he assumes himself as a public property.” To this end, Pastor Quiboloy merely exercised that right in properly respectful terms. In fact, he never made any accusation against the good Senator, but only floated a question regarding that matter on behalf of the people who wanted answers,”ayon kay Atty. Fuentes.
Para din sa kampo ng butihing Pastor, may kinalaman sa pulitika ang paghahain ng kaso ni Pacquiao.
“The complaint of Senator Manny Pacquiao may be considered as retaliatory and a political move on his part considering that the election is coming and we shall do all within our power to ensure that this complaint will not curtail what is a constitutionally protected speech and expression,”dagdag nito.
