Evangelist Apollo Quiboloy endorses presidential candidate Mayor Rodrigo Duterte after a thanksgiving and worship prayer session of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ in Lingayen, Pangasinan. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/WILLIE LOMIBAO
DAVAO CITY鈥� (UPDATE) Carefully chosen or lobbied for?
Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, a longtime friend of presumptive President-elect Rodrigo Duterte, is saddened that incoming members of the Cabinet have not been properly chosen, the religious leader鈥檚 spokesperson said Friday.
鈥淒apat may tamang proseso (There should be a correct process),鈥� Mike Abe, quoting Quiboloy, told 好色先生TV in an interview. Abe is the official spokesperson of Pastor Quiboloy.
READ: Choices for Cabinet not well-thought-out
After Duterte cemented a wide lead in the presidential race, his camp formed a transition team to search for potential Cabinet and sub-Cabinet members.
The team said they wanted the administration of Duterte to be representative of the country as a whole and gender-sensitive.
But Abe said some incoming Cabinet members were lobbied for by some politicians.
He said, quoting Peter Lavi帽a, that reelected Las Pi帽as Representative Mark Villar was initially eyed to be trade and industry secretary, but Duterte鈥檚 running mate, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, lobbied for him to be听public works secretary.
READ: Mark Villar accepts Cabinet post under Duterte
Mark is the son of former senator and real-estate magnate Manny Villar and incumbent senator Cynthia.
The younger Villar met with Duterte on Monday night here when the mayor offered him the post. His parents also met with Duterte here.
Villar鈥檚 Nacionalista Party earlier forged an alliance with Duterte鈥檚 Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).
好色先生TV has sought a response from Cayetano, but he has yet to respond as of posting time.
听
No official communication
Abe said Quiboloy and Duterte had no 鈥渙fficial communication鈥� after the May 9 elections, and that Quiboloy was not consulted about the appointees.
鈥淵an po ang malungkot. Wala pong nangyaring consultation. Since day one (after election day), di siya (Quiboloy) natawagan,鈥� Abe said.
(That is what鈥檚 saddening. There has been no consultation. Since day one after the elections, Quiboloy was not consulted.)
Abe said Quiboloy wanted to talk to Duterte but he has not been able to do so.
鈥淗inaharang ng mga taong nakapaligid sa kanya (He has been prevented from seeing Duterte by the men around him),鈥� he said.
But Abe said Quiboloy was not interested in any government position. He said the pastor only wanted that a proper selection process听be followed.
鈥淕usto lang tumulong ni Pastor kay (Pastor just wants to help) Mayor and the Filipinos,鈥� he said.
鈥淒apat suriin kung sino ang karapat-dapat (We should select properly those who deserve the position),鈥� he said, echoing Quiboloy鈥檚 sentiments.
听
Apology
In a press briefing, Lavina, who serves as the spokesman of the Duterte transition team, extended his apologies to Quiboloy.
鈥淲e extend our apologies. Hopefully, we can adjust accordingly.鈥�
听
READ: Duterte camp apologizes to Quiboloy
He said there was no 鈥渄eliberate effort鈥� to ease out Quiboloy from Duterte鈥檚 core group.
鈥淭hese are not intentional. We wanted to accommodate everyone and of course we want to consult everyone. This is a continuing process,鈥� he told reporters.
鈥淢eron talagang hindi na-entertain and we received this feedback and we are happy na we are receiving this feedback so they can adjust,鈥� he added.
He said the staff members of Duterte were 鈥渙verwhelmed鈥� by the number of well-wishers.
鈥淲e did not expect that so many and they were not prepared,鈥� he said.
听
Lobbyists
Asked about the presence of lobbyists in the transition team and to Duterte, he said it鈥檚 part of democracy.
鈥淭hat is part of democracy. That is how our system works. Our original plan was to welcome well-wishers but we cannot prevent people from bringing issues to the incoming president, suggesting names, offering gifts such as those who brought in books. All of these are part of the process. Mayor does not want to turn them down but it prolongs the process. Some are bringing issues, suggesting nominees but these are part and partial of the process, which we need to understand.鈥�
He said all the named Cabinet members would only be official 鈥渦ntil the mayor signs their paper.鈥� IDL/TVJ
听
RELATED STORIES
Miriam鈥檚 pet peeve is DOJ head
Duterte鈥檚 campaign chief declines Cabinet seat