Quiboloy’s lawyer says sect leader ‘still in PH territory’

This file photo shows televangelist Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, who is now considered a fugitive due to two standing orders for his arrest: one from the Senate for repeatedly ignoring invitations to attend a public inquiry into his alleged crimes and another from a court in Davao over child and sexual abuse charges. PHOTO BY DENNIS JAY SANTOS / INQUIRER MINDANAO

MANILA, Philippines — Sect leader Apollo Quiboloy  “is still in the Philippine territory,” according to his lawyer, Israelito Torreon.

The founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) and self-proclaimed  “Appointed Son of God” is currently considered a fugitive due to a standing warrant for his arrest by the Davao City Regional Trial Court child and sexual abuse charges.

An arrest order was also issued against him by the Senate for repeatedly ignoring invitations to attend a public inquiry into his alleged crimes.

In an interview with ANC on Thursday, Torreon also defended the conditions of Quiboloy for his surrender.

“Well, I can say that he is still in the Philippine territory. […] He is still in the Philippines,” the lawyer first said.

READ: Police official wishes Quiboloy ‘Happy Birthday,’ asks him to yield

He then remarked, “I believe that is not an unreasonable request, and he merely wants an assurance that he will not be extraordinarily rendered to the United States of America, which is different from extradition,” referring to Quiboloy’s requirements regarding his surrender to authorities.

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the extraordinary rendition was the “seizure and transfer” of a person believed to be engaged in wrongdoings for “imprisonment and interrogation without legal process.”

READ: Apollo Quiboloy on FBI’s ‘most wanted’ list

Extradition, on the other hand, is the process where one country transfers a person to another to face the legal process in the latter.

On April 3, a Davao City Regional Trial Court issued arrest warrants against Quiboloy and five others for violations of child and sexual abuse laws.

Quiboloy later said the Philippine government must guarantee that authorities of the United States will not interfere with his present cases, or else he will not surrender.

However, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Monday that Quiboloy’s surrender conditions were a tail-wagging-the-dog situation. But he also assured Quiboloy that the government would “exercise all the compassion” to him.