A top official of the Department of Justice (DOJ) expressed reluctance that the government would give in to Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Apollo Quiboloy’s condition for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to issue a written declaration that he would not be rendered to the US before he would face his charges.
“That is a legal issue that needs to be carefully studied,” DOJ Undersecretary Raul Vasquez said at the Saturday News Forum.
The Justice official was asked for his comment on KOJC lawyer and spokesperson Atty. Israelito Torreon’s remark that Quiboloy would face his charges if the President “will really issue a written declaration that he will not be extraordinarily rendered to the United States of America.”
This was a reiteration of the controversial spiritual leader’s statement in April that he is ready to face the charges should Marcos and Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla provide written guarantees that there would be no extraordinary rendition to the US, and that he latter would not meddle in his cases.
Quiboloy also demanded guarantees from the Philippine National Police, the National Bureau of Investigation, and the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.
However, Vasquez said that “no one in government can give that guarantee strictly speaking.”
The DOJ official stressed that the Philippines is bound by an extradition treaty with the US.
“In the first place, no government official would want to violate the law… lahat ng treaties natin nagfo-force [into] law once it is signed and conferred in by the Senate,” Vasquez said.
“It is the obligation of the state regardless of whoever is in the leadership position,” the Justice official said.
The DOJ executive added that “we can just imagine, if we would relent on our international obligation in favor of an individual…”
‘Assure protection’
In a message to GMA News Online, Torreon maintained that it is within the President’s power to “assure protections to its citizens.”
“I respect his opinion but if he will review Section 48 of RA 11479 there is even a ban on extraordinary rendition that pertains to persons accused or convicted of terrorism, how much more to a person who is accused of human trafficking,” Torreon said.
“It is clearly within the President’s power to assure protection to his citizens, via written declaration, that they will not be extraordinarily rendered to foreign countries with or without extradition treaties,” he added.
Quiboloy has remained at large since April after the issuance of arrest warrants against him and others by the Pasig and Davao courts over alleged human trafficking and child abuse accusations.
The spiritual leader also has an existing arrest warrant issued by the Central District of California Judge Terry Hatter Jr. since March 2024 for charges of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud, coercion, sex trafficking of children, conspiracy, and cash smuggling.
The KOJC leader had previously accused the US government, allegedly with help from Philippine government officials, of plotting to “eliminate” him through rendition in connection with the cases he is facing in the US.
With rendition, a suspect with an outstanding arrest warrant is forcibly abducted from another state, according to Oxford’s definition.
‘Unfair’
Vasquez, meanwhile, clarified that he does not want to preempt whatever decision his higher-ups would make as far as Quiboloy’s condition is concerned.
“Hindi ko papangunahan kung anuman ang magiging desisyon ng nakakataas sa akin kasi, lalo na, that is major policy decision,” the DOJ official said.
But, Vasquez said that should that guarantee be given to Quiboloy, it would be unfair for others who are also facing legal obstacles.
“If that kind of treatment will be given to him, bakit hindi ‘yung mga pobreng tao na may kaso din? I mean fair is fair. The vision and mantra of the administration is… fair prosecution for those who violated the law,” the DOJ official said.
The KOJC camp’s planned legal strategy is to exhaust present legal remedies available despite Quiboloy’s non-compliance with the warrant of arrest issued against him.
Torreon had further clarified that Quiboloy could not be called a fugitive as they have consistently issued appropriate biddings and motions to counter his cases despite not adhering to the warrant of arrest issued by the Senate.
The KOJC lawyer made the remark as the police continued to look for Quiboloy.
Last Saturday, the authorities went to the KOJC compound in Davao City to serve the warrant on the pastor.
The search in the expansive property went on over the course of the week, with the police on Friday saying they had covered 40% to 50% of the compound.
The PNP on Saturday maintained its presence at the premises of the KOJC compound in Davao City despite inclement weather as the operation to serve the arrest warrant against Quiboloy entered its eighth day.
Torreon assured that the KOJC Board of Administrators have consistently reported that Quiboloy was not at the compound.
He also said that he has not seen the pastor since March, where he saw Quiboloy riding a car while leaving the compound.
—VAL, GMA Integrated News
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