Rep. Abante: ‘High time’ to extradite Quiboloy to US

House Committee on Human Rights Chair Bienvenido Abante on Monday said he supports the extradition of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy to the US, where he is wanted on the charges of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion and sex trafficking of children; sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion; conspiracy; and bulk cash smuggling.

"I'm one of them that supports the extradition of Pastor Quiboloy. Kailangang-kailangan na 'yan kasi [It's necessary because] we are a member of the community of nations," Abante, who represents Manila's 6th District, said in an online interview.

"Dapat lang na, meron naman tayong [We should; we have an] extradition treaty with the US. I think it's high time na gawin na natin ito [that we do this] for the sake of our country, for the sake of our sovereignty, at for the sake na hindi tayo nagtatago ng sinuman na dapat managot sa batas [of not hiding anyone who should answer to the law]," he added.

In 2021, a federal grand jury in California indicted the Davao City-based religious leader and a federal arrest warrant against him was issued. In June, the US made the request to extradite Quiboloy, who is currently detained in the Philippines on human trafficking and child abuse charges.

"Kung pwedeng umusad ang extradition kahit may pending na kaso dito, bakit hindi natin gawin?" Abante said.

(If the extradition can proceed even if he has pending cases here, why don't we do it?)

"Kung pwede natin bilisan ang proseso na hindi nilalagay sa alanganin ang karapatan ng mga akusado, eh pwede natin simulan na ang proseso ng extradition ni Quiboloy sa ating bansa [If we can speed up the process without compromising on the accused rights, then we can begin the extradition process]. Naniniwala naman ako[I believe] that extradition follows a defined legal track. It is a rules-based mechanism."

"Ang US ang siyang nangunguna sa due process na 'yan. Bilang isang democratic country, naniniwala ako that the US will provide due process for him while he is there. Ganoon din sa ating bansa," Abante added.

(The US leads in due process. As a democratic country the US, I believe, will provide due process for him while he is there. That is also the case in our country.) — BM, GMA Integrated News