MANILA – The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday said the United States government’s request to extradite jailed Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Apollo Quiboloy and two co-accused is already with the Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 145.
In a press briefing, the DOJ said the charges involve human trafficking, sex trafficking, conspiracy and bulk cash smuggling.
Quiboloy’s co-accused are Teresita Dandan and Helen Panilag.
The DOJ said the US court “issued warrants of arrest against the respondents, which remain valid and executable.”
Under the rules of extradition, the DOJ will issue a warrant of arrest against the extradites and the clerk of court will issue the corresponding summons, which will be personally served.
“An extradition proceeding is sui generis (a class of its own). It is not a criminal proceeding and it does not involve the determination of the guilt or innocence of an accused. His guilt or innocence will be adjudged in the court of the state where he will be extradited,” the DOJ said.
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) website, the three ran a trafficking scheme that brought KOJC members to the US using fraudulently obtained visas and forced the members to solicit donations for a bogus charity.
Members who successfully solicited for the church were allegedly forced into sham marriages or to obtain fraudulent student visas to continue their activities.
The FBI said Dandan, the international administrator of the church, allegedly played a central role in recruiting female victims, including minor victims, to work as personal assistants (pastorals) for Quiboloy.
The victims were allegedly required to prepare Quiboloy’s meals, clean his residences and give him massages.
They have sex with the KOJC leader on schedule, referred to as “night duty.” (PNA)
