Quiboloy ‘extradition warrant of arrest’ out
Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy and his co-accused take their oaths during the Senate hearing of the Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality in Pasay City on October 23, 2024. Quiboloy and other members of the religious group face allegations of human trafficking and sexual abuse involving women and children members of the church. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File MANILA — A Makati court has issued an “extradition arrest warrant” against Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy and his co-accused in his cases in the US, the Department of Justice said Friday.
Quiboloy is currently detained at the Pasig City Jail for his separate qualified human trafficking case pending before the Pasig City Regional Trial Court.
The DOJ said the Makati City Regional Trial Court on Thursday issued the warrant against Quiboloy, Teresita Dandan and Helen Panilag after finding probable cause that each extraditee is the person named in the corresponding foreign arrest warrant and indictment, that the offenses charged are extraditable offenses, and that each extraditee committed the offense or offenses charged.
The agency added that the court issued a hold departure order against each “extraditee to prevent any attempt by each of them to depart from the Philippines.”
The DOJ noted that according to the Rules on Extradition Proceedings, once the court is notified of the implementation of the arrest of an extraditee, the corresponding summons, including the copy of the petition and its annexes, shall be personally served to the extraditee.
They will then have a period of fifteen days, from receipt of the summons, to file a verified answer.
Asked about the status of the Philippine qualified trafficking case against Quiboloy, DOJ spokesperson Atty. Polo Martinez said the prosecution had concluded its presentation of evidence.
Martinez added that the prosecution was set to file its formal offer of evidence, after which the defense would be given an opportunity to comment.
The official noted that a separate child abuse case was pending before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court, with the prosecution still in the process of presenting its evidence.
Quiboloy was arrested in the Philippines in 2024, following a standoff and weeks-long police search at the KOJC compound in Davao City.
A US grand jury had indicted Quiboloy three years earlier for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, sex trafficking of children, and bulk cash smuggling.
The 2021 US indictment alleges girls and women between the ages of 12 and 25 were recruited as personal assistants for Quiboloy to prepare his meals, clean his residence, give him massages, and have sex with him.
Malacanang said recent moves to extradite Quiboloy was not done in time for US President Donald Trump’s arrival in Manila.
“Nagkataon lang siguro dahil alam na natin na noon pang nakapag-request ang FBI at voluminous ang documents kaya napatagal din ang pag-aaral pero long overdue na ito,” Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro told reporters on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit.
“It’s part of the procedure na mag-issue ng warrant of arrest. Kasi kapag nag issue ng warrant of arrest at nadala ang tao sa korte, nagkakaroon ng jurisdiction sa katauhan ng tao na ie-extradite,” she said.
Extradition proceedings are “summary in nature” so both camps are expected to simply submit pleadings unless a specific witness is called to court, said Castro, who is a trial lawyer by profession.
“Dahil summary ito, dapat mas mabilis kaya ang pagsagawa ng desisyon ay mabilisan din po. Hindi po siya dapat taon ang inaabot,” she said.
“Pagka-file ng last pleading or from the last witness who will testify, within 30 days from such there should be a decision from the trial court, and then if an appeal will be filed it should be decided within 90 days,” she said.
“If the chief state counsel will request for a temporary delay in the hearing of the case pending here in the Philippines, it can be granted by the court,” Castro said.
“If ever it will be unfavorable to the extraditee, they can file an appeal before the Court of Appeals pero after the decision rendered by the Court of Appeals, it will be considered as final and executory,” she said.
“Hanggang doon lang po yung procedure at ang Supreme Court ang nag-relay at naggawa ng ganitong klaseng procedure,” she added.
Castro said that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has maintained that he would leave Quiboloy’s extradition to the DOJ, Castro said.
“Ang Pangulo naman basta sa proseso at walang nilalabag na batas,” she said.
Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said it was ready to assist with Quiboloy’s possible extradition.
“I have yet to receive the information or the warrant. I will be in touch with the Department of Justice,” NBI Director Melvin Matibag told reporters.