Quiboloy says US wants to 'eliminate' him through rendition

Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy has accused the United States 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.

In an audio recording posted on Facebook on Wednesday, Quiboloy said he learned from "reliable sources" that US government bodies -- including the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) -- are eyeing to conduct "rendition" on him instead of extradition.

"Ayaw na raw po nila ng extradition treaty. Ang kanila pong gagawin ng CIA, FBI, ng US Embassy, at State Department, kasabwat ng ating gobyerno ng Pangulong Marcos at ng First Lady at kung sino pa man ang nasa gobyerno, ako ay rendition ang kanilang gagawin," he said.

(They allegedly no longer want extradition. What the CIA, FBI, the US Embassy and US State Department, with the help of President Marcos and the First Lady and other officials, plan to do is rendition.)

With rendition, a suspect with an outstanding arrest warrant is forcibly abducted from another state, according to Oxford's definition.

"It's not only rendition but also elimination. If it's possible, puwede nila akong i-assassinate," Quiboloy said.

The controversial religious leader said with rendition, authorities can barge into his compound at any time and kidnap him.

Quiboloy made several other accusations during his 37-minute audio message -- including the US offering $2 million or P100 million bounty for his arrest and a supposed plan to plant evidence against him -- all citing sources.

"Ang balita namin kung ito ay totoo, sa reliable source, nagsasabi na plaplanting-an daw kami ng bomba, guns, and drugs. Iyan po ay aming babantayan," Quiboloy said.

(Based on our information from a reliable source, they will plant bombs, guns, and drugs in our compound. That’s what we will watch out for.)

GMA News Online has already reached out to Malacañang and the US Embassy in the Philippines for their comment regarding Quiboloy's accusation, but they have yet to respond as of posting time.

In a message to GMA Integrated News, FBI Public Affairs Specialist Laura Eimiller said she is not aware of any bounty for Quiboloy's arrest but confirmed that he has an outstanding arrest warrant in the US.

"There is an active arrest warrant for Mr. Quiboloy but I’m unaware of a reward offer,” Eimiller said.  

According to Quiboloy, who is facing sex trafficking and bulk cash smuggling cases, among others, in the US, he and his lawyers prefer extradition and are in fact ready to deal with it.

“Dahil nandito ako, I will use my constitutional rights for extradition na siyang treaty ng ating bansa. Yan po ang hinihintay ng mga lawyers ko dito sa Pilipinas at sa Amerika,” he said.

“Handa rin po ako sa kasong 'yan, kung ako ay ma-extradite, pagkatapos mapag-usapan at dumaan na kami sa Court of Appeals, Court of First Instance, at Supreme Court. Kung ilan taon yun, magtiis din sila,” he added.

(Because I am here, I will use my constitutional rights for extradition because our country has a treaty for that. That's what my lawyers here and in the US are waiting for. I'm also ready to face those cases if ever I am extradited after going through the Court of Appeals, Court of First Instance and Supreme Court. They just have to wait for years.)

In December 2023, a United States court set a new date for the trial for the criminal cases of Quiboloy to November 5, 2024.

The proceedings are for charges of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, coercion, and sex trafficking of children, marriage fraud, fraud and misuse of visas, bulk cash smuggling, promotional money laundering, and international promotional money laundering.

In the Philippines, both the Senate and the House of Representatives have issued subpoena against Quiboloy after he skipped the separate hearings on the alleged abuses being linked to his religious group. —KBK, GMA Integrated News