Apollo Quiboloy (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE)
MANILA, Philippines — An extradition request from the United States for Apollo Quiboloy may be coming soon, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Friday.
“Sa ngayon, wala pa kaming natatanggap na extradition request. Nguni’t may alam si Secretary [Jesus Crispin] Remulla na parating na raw ang opisyal na hiling mula sa Estados Unidos,” said DOJ Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty in a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing.
(So far, we have not received any extradition request. But Secretary [Jesus Crispin] Remulla knows that the official request from the United States is coming.)
Ty said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will accept the US’ extradition request.
The DFA will then conduct a preliminary review of the request before forwarding it to the DOJ.
“Tapos, kami rin ay may sariling mga pagsusuri kaming gagawin, halimbawa titingnan kung iyong offense na ito ay extraditable ‘no, or kung sakop ito ng extradition treaty natin sa Estados Unidos,” said Ty.
(Then, we also have our own assessments. For example, we will check if the offense is extraditable, or if it is covered by our extradition treaty with the United States.)
“Pagkatapos noon, tayo ay magsasampa na ng kaso sa regional trial court, kung saan ay doon ililitis kung karapat-dapat bang i-extradite si Pastor Quiboloy,” he added.
(After that, we will file a case before the regional trial court, where a trial will be conducted to determine whether or not Quiboloy deserves to be extradited.)
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. previously committed that Quiboloy would first deal with cases filed against him in the Philippines before facing charges in the US.
Quobiloy is facing child abuse and human trafficking cases before the Davao City and Pasig City courts, respectively.
He is also charged in the United States with 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.