Marcos on Quiboloy camp's demand vs. US extradition: Immaterial

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Wednesday dubbed as immaterial the condition set by fugitive pastor Apollo Quiboloy's camp demanding a guarantee from the Philippine government that he will not undergo extradition proceedings to the United States.

In an interview, Marcos said it seems the camp of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder does not understand the process when it comes to arresting Quiboloy.

''Parang hindi niya yata masyadong naintindihan ang proseso ng pag — pagka nag-issue ang korte ng bench warrant or warrant for arrest, it is out of our hands already. It is in the court's hands,'' Marcos said.

(It seems he does not fully understand the process. When a court issues a bench warrant or warrant for arrest, it is out of our hands already...)

''Kailangan ang kausap niya ang korte. Dahil ang executive, ang papel lang namin ngayon ay arestuhin siya. So, all of these conditions that he's putting in are immaterial,'' he added.

(He needs to talk to the court. The executive [department] is just doing its duty to arrest him...)

Earlier, Justice Undersecretary Raul Vasquez said the Philippine government could not guarantee that Quiboloy would not be turned over to the US once he resurfaced.

Vasquez stressed that the country’s legal system continues to uphold the principle of fairness, citing the administration’s commitment to ensuring equitable treatment under the law.

Meanwhile, KOJC lawyer and spokesperson Israelito Torreon reiterated that Quiboloy just wanted assurance that “he will not be extraordinarily rendered to the US and that the US should not be allowed to intervene in the judicial proceedings in the country.”  

“Knowing the President’s closeness to the US and the grave threats to Pastor ACQ’s life, he simply wants the President, as the supposed protector of the rights of the Filipino citizens, to place in writing the President’s assurance so that the good Pastor will not really be transferred to the US while facing his cases in the Philippines,” Torreon said in a statement.

“This request is not unreasonable knowing that Pastor Quiboloy is a citizen of the Republic, hence, he can rightfully request his President to enforce the country’s territorial sovereignty by not bowing down to any possible US pressure for him to be transferred to US soil later on without him clearing his name in the Philippines.” 

Torreon earlier told GMA News Online that it is within the President's power to "assure protections to its citizens."

Torreon cited Section 48 of RA 11479 where he said "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."

"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.

The Philippines and the US signed an extradition treaty in November 1994, agreeing to extradite to each other certain individuals whom the authorities in the requesting state have charged with or convicted of an extraditable offense.

READ: EXPLAINER: PH's extradition law

Quiboloy was indicted by a federal grand jury in the US District Court for the Central District of California for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion and sex trafficking of children; sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion; conspiracy; and bulk cash smuggling.

Police continue to search for Quiboloy and his co-accused as the serving of arrest warrant enters its 12th day today, September 4.

The Philippine National Police believes Quiboloy is still inside the Kingdom of Jesus Christ compound in Davao City. —KG, GMA Integrated News