FILE PHOTO: Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla. (Senate PRIB)
MANILA, Philippines — The United States government has neither communicated any extradition request nor issued a warrant of arrest against Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder Apollo Quiboloy, who was the subject of financial sanctions by the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla disclosed this to reporters on Monday, explaining that the US government may have initially proceeded to freeze Quiboloy’s assets.
“Wala pa. Ano ‘to, hindi naman ‘to mabilis eh. Marami pang mangyayari dito. They still have to file the necessary cases. Inuna lang ata nila itong freezing of the assets. So wait and see lang tayo,” Remulla said.
(There is none yet. This thing doesn’t happen quickly. Many things may still happen. They still have to file the necessary cases. Maybe they just made the freezing of the assets a priority. So, let’s just wait and see.)
He also said that the DOJ is still “waiting at the sidelines” on what the action of the US government will be, as cases against Quiboloy – who claims to be the “Appointed Son of God” – pile up.
“We’re looking at the cases to be filed. We’re waiting for things to happen on our end. Sa atin naman kasi (On our part), we have a treaty with them, we have an extradition treaty and we have to abide by the terms [and] conditions of our agreements with our friends from abroad,” the DOJ chief noted.
On December 10, the US Treasury’s OFAC announced that it imposed a financial sanction on Quiboloy ”to promote accountability for human rights abusers and corrupt actors across the world.”
Because of the sanction, all property, interests in property, and possessions of Quiboloy will be blocked and reported to the OFAC.
House Deputy Minority leader Rep. France Castro earlier said the sanctions imposed by OFAC against Quiboloy should spark local investigations against him, and on the franchise of Sonshine Media Network International or SMNI. Castro said SMNI “serves as a mouthpiece for Quiboloy, who is wanted for child rape.”
Prior to the financial sanctions of the US Treasury’s OFAC, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation or FBI had released a “Wanted” poster for Quiboloy over 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.
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