Quiboloy camp stresses condition on Marcos guarantee

Apollo Quiboloy's lawyer has reiterated the pastor's condition for President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to issue a written declaration that he would not be rendered to the United States, where he is facing conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, coercion, and sex trafficking of children.

Atty. Israelito Torreon, lawyer and spokesperson for the Kingdom of Jesus Christ religious group, indicated that Quiboloy availing of his legal remedies in the wake of the warrants of arrest issued against him might stop if Marcos would issue the written commitment.

Torreon made the remark as the police continued to look for Quiboloy. On 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.

Asked on Super Radyo dzBB if Quiboloy's strategy was to exhaust his legal options while hiding, Torreon said, "That is within our rule of law."

"Ultimately, the final decision rests with Pastor Apollo Quiboloy. Maybe that will end if President Marcos will really issue a written declaration that he will not be extraordinarily rendered to the United States of America," Torreon said.

"He has always been consistent In that regard," he added.

Pressed on the importance of the condition for Quiboloy, Torreon said, "Simply because of the fact that he wants to clear his name here, because the case really is weak and know that this was dismissed already in the past by the city prosecution office."

"Defective pa nga yung petition for review, dapat dismissible 'yun," Torreon said.

(The petition for review was even defective and should have been dismissed.)

In the US, Quiboloy is also facing charges for alleged fraud, and coercion; sex trafficking of children; marriage fraud; fraud and misuse of visas; bulk cash smuggling; promotional money laundering; concealment money laundering; and international promotional money laundering.

Quiboloy has repeatedly denied the allegaions against him.

In April, Quiboloy released a statement saying that he was 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.

He also demanded guarantees from the Philippine National Police, the National Bureau of Investigation, and the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

Marcos said in April that the proceedings against Quiboloy would be fair, adding that the latter should not worry about the United States meddling in his cases.

"All the proceedings will be fair. Now, as to the involvement of the United States... That's going to take years. So I don't think that's something he needs to worry about, quite frankly,'' Marcos said in an ambush interview in Bacolod City.

Marcos saw Quiboloy setting conditions for his surrender as "a bit of tail wagging the dog."

Quiboloy has remained at large since April after the issuance of arrest warrants against him and others by the Pasig and Davao courts.

He also has an existing arrest warrant issued by the Central District of California Judge Terry Hatter Jr. since March 2024 for charges of charges of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud, coercion, sex trafficking of children, conspiracy, and cash smuggling. 

Torreon said that Quiboloy had been consistent in his requests and declarations of accountability should his request be granted even before he disappeared.

“He fears the lies, and the obsession being shown by this administration against him can actually be seen in our own eyes and how much more if he is arrested?" Torreon said.

"And yet, despite that, he merely requested that president to issue a written declaration that he will not be extraordinarily rendered to the United States of America simply because of the fact that he is a citizen of the Republic," he added.

"He has the right to request the President, as the president of the Philippines, to protect him… but this was not done,” Torreon 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 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 Supreme Court has consistently stated that the accused also has the right to question the finding of probable cause, the validity of information of the warrant of arrest, and if he is denied, he can go to the Court of Appeals for a petition of certiorari and it is perfectly legal and that would not qualify him to be called a fugitive,” Torreon said.

“That is within his right. It may be an uncomfortable choice, but it is a choice… That is within our rule of law,” he added. —NB, GMA Integrated News