Quiboloy camp: Let PH courts decide on case ahead of US extradition

The legal team of Filipino religious leader Apollo Quiboloy on Thursday called on the Marcos administration to let Philippine courts decide on his criminal case before rendering a decision on the United States' request for his extradition.

In a message to reporters, lawyer Israelito Torreon said the Quiboloy camp recognizes that under the extradition treaty between the two countries, "it is within the discretion of the requested state (Philippines) whether to allow Pastor ACQ to be extradited to the US whether the case against him is pending or has already been decided against him."

"Hence, we can only manifest our sincerest hope that the Philippine Government would exercise its sovereign option to allow the Philippine courts to fully exercise its jurisdiction over Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy's case before it will decide to transfer Pastor ACQ to the US," he added.

GMA News Online reported Wednesday that documents supporting the US request to extradite Quiboloy were transmitted to the Philippine Department of Justice (DOJ) in June, citing sources who have knowledge of the process but spoke on condition of anonymity due to a lack of authority to speak on the issue.

Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez confirmed that the United States has made a request for Quiboloy's extradition. 

"I can confirm the documents/evidence for the extradition request are all now with the DOJ. They have been there since June," Romualdez told GMA News Online.

Romualdez said US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson and Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla were expected to meet next week to discuss the matter.

Provisional arrest

According to Torreon, Quiboloy's camp has yet to receive the documents related to the extradition request by the US.

If the request has indeed been made, Torreon said, the Quiboloy camp "respect[s] the prerogative" of the United States to make such a move in line with its extradition treaty with the Philippines.

While recognizing that the US may seek his provisional arrest, Torreon said this may not be necessary.

"We are likewise cognizant that under Article 9 of the Treaty, the US can even request for the provisional arrest of the subject, however, we feel that such request for provisional arrest may not be necessary as of the moment," Torreon said.

He pointed out that "the 'urgency' requirement under that section is absent in this case as Pastor Quiboloy is in jail awaiting resolution of his motion for reconsideration from the denial of his petition for bail."

Last July, the Pasig Regional Trial Court-Branch 159 denied petitions for bail by Quiboloy and his co-accused in relation to his case for qualified trafficking for sexual abuse and labor exploitation. 

In the Philippines, Quiboloy is facing a non-bailable qualified human trafficking charge under Section 4(a) of Republic Act 9208, as amended, with the Pasig court.

The Davao City-based religious leader is also facing charges under Section 5(b) and  Section 10(a) of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act with a Quezon City court.

Sent to DOJ

Meanwhile, the DFA on Thursday reiterated Romualdez's statement that the US request for extradition for Quiboloy was sent to the Justice Department in June.

Foreign Affairs spokesperson Angelica Escalona told reporters: "The Department of Foreign Affairs wishes to clarify that Secretary of Foreign Affairs Ma. Theresa Lazaro did not receive the US extradition request for Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Apollo Quiboloy. As Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez stated, the documents were sent to the DOJ as early as June and not to DFA."

Under the 2014 Philippines-US extradition treaty, "the Department of Justice of the United States of America and the Department of Justice of the Republic of the Philippines may consult with each other directly in connection with the processing of individual cases."

Quiboloy, indicted by a US federal grand jury in 2021, landed on the US Federal Bureau of Investigation's most wanted list.

In America, he is facing charges for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion, sex trafficking of children, and bulk cash smuggling.

He is currently detained at the Pasig City jail.

Quiboloy's camp has denied the allegations against him. — Joviland Rita, with a report from Michaela del Callar/ VDV, GMA Integrated News