California judge orders unsealing of arrest warrant vs Quiboloy

NEW YORK CITY — Central District of California Judge Terry Hatter Jr. has ordered the unsealing of the arrest warrants against Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder Pastor Apollo Quiboloy and his co-accused.

The unsealing was requested by the United States Attorney Criminal Division handling Quiboloy's case, which involves charges of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud, coercion, sex trafficking of children, conspiracy, and cash smuggling.

"Upon application of the government, and for good cause shown, the arrest warrants and returns in this case are unsealed," Hatter said in his order dated March 1, 2024.

According to New York lawyer Lara Gregory, this could be the first step in initiating the extradition process by the US Department of Justice for Quiboloy.

Now that the arrest warrants for Quiboloy and his co-accused have been unsealed, INTERPOL may also issue Red Notices for their names to be put on notice, Gregory told GMA Integrated News.

"What happens is that the name of a person listed on a Red Notice is placed on a lookout list, and when the name of the person listed comes to the attention of law enforcement abroad, the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) in the Philippines will notify through INTERPOL, and the US Federal Prosecutor will then request that person's provisional arrest and/or file a formal request for extradition," Gregory added.

Quiboloy, Helen Panilag, and Teresita Tolibas Dandan remain wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and are believed to be in the Philippines.

The FBI previously arrested officials and members of the KOJC, including Guia Cabactulan, Marissa Duenas, Amanda Estopare, Felina Salinas, and Bettina Padilla Roces, all of whom are co-accused of Quiboloy.

In an audio message last month, Quiboloy, who denied the allegations against him, accused the US government, allegedly with help from Philippine government officials, of plotting to "eliminate" him through rendition.

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

In another audio message also last month, Quiboloy blasted the US Embassy in the Philippines for  being "one-sided." 

In December 2022, Quiboloy's camp dismissed the charges of human rights abuse against him in the US as "grandstanding" by the US government.

GMA News Online has reached out to Quiboloy's lawyer in the Philippines, Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, regarding the unsealing of the arrest warrant against the religious leader in the US, but he has yet to respond as of posting time.

A Senate committee in the Philippines is seeking the arrest of Quiboloy for refusing to appear at the investigation into the alleged human trafficking and sexual abuses involving his religious group.

Senator Risa Hontiveros, who leads the Senate investigation on the accusations against the KOJC leader, said on Thursday that justice must be served for the women victim-survivors of Quiboloy.

The lawmaker issued the statement amid the celebration of International Women's Day.

“Our women witnesses have had to overcome overwhelming feelings of shame and fear in order to speak their truth, to get justice, and to find peace. Ngayong ipinagdiriwang natin ang araw ng kababaihan, sana matiyak natin ang hustisya para sa bawat babaeng paulit-ulit na inabuso ng taong itinangala nila,” Hontiveros said.

(Now that we are celebrating Women's Day, we must ensure that justice will be served to the women who were repeatedly abused by a person whom they looked up to.)

“This IWD, I call on all of us to listen to these women and girls. Let us not waste their courage. Hindi madali ang ginawa nilang pagbahagi ng mga mapapait na karanasan alang-alang sa hustisya (Speaking up about these abuses and their sufferings to seek justice is not easy). Let us show them that justice in this country can work for the most vulnerable,” the senator said.

During the investigation last January, several women testified at a Senate inquiry their claims of sexual abuse against Quiboloy. Those who testified included a minor and two Ukrainian women who were also former members of KOJC.

On June 17, 2024, a court in California will render a verdict regarding Maria de Leon, who acted as a travel agent for the KOJC, allegedly facilitating fake marriages and student visa documents for members.

De Leon has already reached a plea agreement with the prosecution in exchange for a reduced sentence.   —with Hana Bordey/KBK/RF, GMA Integrated News