Palace: Apollo Quiboloy extradition 'long overdue'

The issuance of an extradition arrest warrant for Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder Apollo Quiboloy to face criminal charges in the United States is already "long overdue," Malacañang said Friday.

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said the extradition warrant of arrest and hold departure orders are part of legal procedure, following Manila's receipt of the US government's request to extradite Quiboloy.

She added that the court's issuance merely coincided with the arrival of US President Donald Trump to the Philippines for the 46th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit next week.

"Hindi. Nagkataon lang siguro dahil alam na natin noon pa itong pag-request at voluminous ang documents," Castro said.

(No. It's just a coincidence because we already knew about this request and the documents were voluminous.)

"Kaya medyo natagalan din ang pag-aaral. So long overdue na ito. Maraming nang binasa para makagawa ng petition," she added.

(That's why it took a while to study, so this is long overdue. A lot of documents read to come up with a petition.)

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced last August that it has received the extradition request from the US.

The Makati Regional Trial Court issued an extradition arrest warrant and hold-departure order for Quiboloy and two of his co-accused, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said Friday.

"The court issued an Extradition Warrant of Arrest against the foregoing individuals, after finding probable cause that: (a) each extraditee is the person named in the corresponding foreign arrest warrant and indictment, (b) that the offenses charged are extraditable offenses, and (c) that each extraditee committed the offense or offenses charged," it said in a statement.

"At the same time, said court likewise issued a Hold Departure Order against each extraditee, to prevent any attempt by each of them to depart from the Philippines," it added.

Castro also said President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. is letting the DOJ handle Quiboloy's case.

"Even before, sinabi naman ito ay ipinauubaya niya sa DOJ. So, alam naman niya ang nagiging proseso," Castro said.

(Even before, Marcos said he would leave it to the DOJ. So, he knows the process.)

Also on Friday, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said it is ready to assist in the extradition of Quiboloy, in coordination with the DOJ and other law enforcement agencies.

The NBI explained that the law enforcement agency holding custody of Quiboloy will be responsible for presenting him in court, noting that the extradition will undergo a process and require a hearing. — VDV, GMA News