By JOSEPH ANTHONY A. DAMGO
As there is no extradition request yet from the US for the transfer of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday said the religious leader who was forced to surrender last Sunday after being cornered in his hole in his sprawling Kingdom of Jesus Christ compound in Davao City, must first face the local courts and answer the charges filed against him.
“Well, the extradition request is not yet there. Besides the judicial processes that Apollo Quiboloy is going to have to go through now locally still have to be done,” the President told reporters following his attendance to Philippine Strategic Trade Management Summit 2024 in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City.
“Because … what has been done is that we have implemented and enforced an arrest warrant that was issued by the court. And therefore it is now between – it is now in the court’s hands, wala na sa executive ito,” he added.
“But for the moment, hindi extradition ang tinitingnan natin. Ang tinitingnan natin ay ‘yung mga kaso na mga complaint na pinila dito sa Pilipinas at ‘yun muna ang kailangan niyang harapin.”
US authorities indicted Quiboloy for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion, and sex trafficking of children.
Last April, a Pasig City court ordered the arrest of Quiboloy for qualified human trafficking. He also has an arrest warrant for a child and sexual abuse complaint filed at the Davao City Regional Trial Court.
The President said the hunt to capture Quiboloy was a police-led operation, with troops from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) providing augmentation. He noted that this is the usual practice by the military to assist law enforcers in delicate situations.
President Marcos mentioned that Quiboloy turned himself in to the military on Sunday, apparently after realizing the futility of hiding.
A C-130 plane was sent to Davao City Sunday afternoon to fetch Quiboloy so he could personally appear in the Pasig City court.
The President expressed his relief that the hunt for Quiboloy was over.
“I think … what convinced Mr. Quiboloy na wala na, useless na ‘yung magtago siya. Dapat lumabas na siya. And so… Well, I’m happy that… I’m glad that this is over. We can now resolve and look at the allegations that have been made against him,” the President said praising the police for a job well done.
“I have to commend our PNP. This is police work at its best. This is what the PNP can do ‘pag led well at maganda ang ating pagkakaunawa at pag-coordinate sa iba’t ibang ahensiya. But this is what policemen do. They go after and enforce court orders and go after…those who have had cases filed against them,” the President said.
President Marcos emphasized that the government has to engage the technical assistance and intelligence services of other government agencies to bring Quiboloy to justice.
At the same time, the President also assured that Quiboloy will be treated fairly and that his constitutional rights will be protected, while also assuring he would not be accorded any special treatment.
“We will go through the process. If the process will be transparent, everyone who was involved will be accountable. And we will demonstrate, once again to the world, that our judicial system in the Philippines is active, is vibrant, and is working well,” he said.
“Babantayan natin na tama naman ang mangyayari na lahat ng kanyang karapatan, walang nasasagasaan doon sa karapatan niya. Wala namang ibabalewala sa kanyang kahilingan kung anuman ‘yun. But again, there is no special treatment,” he said.
Although Quiboloy is a prominent person, the President said the religious leader will be treated like any other arrested person, and his rights will be respected and protected as he goes through the judicial process.
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