Marcos to decide whether Quiboloy will be extradited to US — expert

It is up to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. whether or not the Philippines extradite Pastor Apollo Quiboloy to the US as the latter formally requested.

According to Jonathan Andal's report on "24 Oras," international law expert Atty. Ralph Sarmiento said that extradition is both a judicial and diplomatic matter,

“The court’s part is to determine whether or not he is extraditable… the implementation of that, it will be subject to the president, pursuant to his prerogatives and the conduct of foreign relations,” Sarmiento said in a mix of English and Filipino.

Marcos would have to take into account the relationship between the US and the Philippines, Sarmiento explained.

According to the rules set by the Supreme Court, the act of extraditing could only begin once the Justice Secretary or an official designated counsel files a verified petition before the extradition court.

The subject of the extradition request will be detained at the National Bureau of Investigation while court proceedings take place. Should a witness be presented, the court must render a decision within 30 calendar days after the last test testimony is given.

In case no witnesses are presented, the extradition court should render judgement within 30 days from receipt of the last pleading.

The SC said that the decision may be appealed at the Court of Appeals (CA). The CA’s judgement is final.

If the extraditee is also facing criminal charges in the Philippines for an offense other than what the extradition is about, execution of the extradition request could be postponed—unless the local court handling the case allows the temporary surrender of extraditee to the requesting state

The Department of Foreign Affairs said that it has already received the extradition request and passed it on the Department of Justice.

Quiboloy’s counsel, lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, believed that because there are still local cases pending against the pastor, the extradition will not push through.

READ: US Marshals most likely to take custody of Quiboloy if extradition is approved

–Jean Mangaluz/NB, GMA News