MANILA – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said there is still no request from the United States government regarding the extradition of Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.
According to the Chief Executive, local judicial process has to be done first on the self-proclaimed Son of God before he faces his cases in the United States.
“The extradition request is not yet there,” President Marcos said in an ambush interview with Malacañang reporters on Monday morning.
“For the moment, hindi extradition ang tinitignan natin; ang tinitignan natin ang mga complaints, mga kaso na ipinila dito sa Pilipinas, at ‘yun muna ang kailangan niya harapin,” he added.
Quiboloy is 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.
The KOJC founder is also facing a non-bailable qualified human trafficking charge under Section 4(a) of Republic Act No. 9208, as amended, before a Pasig court.
He also has been indicted by a federal grand jury in the US District Court for the Central District of California for 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.
Meanwhile, Department of Justice secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said that his office recognizes the Philippines’ extradition treaty with the United States if ever there will be a request.
However, Remulla clarified that Quiboloy will have first to serve the sentence of his cases in the Philippines before granting any possible extradition to US.
“He will be tried first in the Philippines for crimes he committed here and, if convicted, must first serve his sentence before granting any request for extradition by the US,” Remulla said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel.
Quiboloy turned himself to the authorities on Sunday evening after the Philippine National Police (PNP) gave him the ultimatum to surrender or they would be forced to enter a building in the KOJC compound in Davao City where he was believed to be hiding./PN
