US Justice Dept won't comment on extradition after Quiboloy's surrender in PH

NEW YORK - The United States Department of Justice on Monday (US time) said it will not comment on extradition matters as a matter of policy, after Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Pastor Apollo Quiboloy surrendered to Philippine authorities.

In a message to GMA Integrated News, US DOJ spokesperson Nicole Navas Oxman stated that it is the policy of the department not to comment on extradition matters until the accused is in the custody of the US government.

"As a matter of policy, the U.S. Department of Justice generally does not comment on extradition-related matters until a defendant is in the United States,” she said.

Quiboloy is on the Federal Bureau of Investigation's most wanted list due to multiple cases in the US District Court for the Central District of California.

The KOJC leader is facing charges in the US of 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.

READ: TIMELINE: Apollo Quiboloy's legal troubles

Two other co-accused in the cases against Quiboloy in the US, who are also on the FBI's most wanted list, have not yet been arrested. They are Teresita Dandan and Helen Panilag, both American citizens believed to be hiding in the Philippines.

Quiboloy's co-accused in these cases include Felina Salinas, Guia Cabactulan, Marissa Duenas, Amanda Estopare, Bettina Padilla Roces, and Maria De Leon, who was previously arrested by the FBI in the United States.

Maria De Leon reached a plea agreement with the US District Attorney's Office, agreeing to disclose everything she knows about alleged KOJC's visa fraud operations in exchange for a reduced sentence.

The sentencing for De Leon is scheduled for January 27 next year, while the trial for Quiboloy's case is set for May 20, 2025.

A KOJC legal counsel earlier said the US charges were "vicious attempt to bring down Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy and some of the Kingdom leaders".

Quiboloy was caught by Philippine authorities on Sunday, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) later said the fugitive pastor surrendered on Sunday to officials of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) in Davao City after he was given a 24-hour ultimatum.

Quiboloy was flown on Sunday night to Metro Manila then held at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame.

On Monday, Quiboloy and four co-accused, namely Jackielyn Roy, Ingrid Canada, Crisente Canada, Syliva Cemañes, were presented as detainees in a press conference conducted by Abalos and PNP chief Police General Rommel Marbil.

Arrest warrants were issued against Quiboloy and others for alleged violation of the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act as well as qualified human trafficking.

The police have been trying to implement arrest warrants against Quiboloy at the KOJC compound in Davao City since August 24.

Quiboloy's camp has repeatedly denied the allegations against him.

In November 2021, US prosecutors indicted Quiboloy and others for allegedly running a sex trafficking operation that threatened victims as young as 12 with "eternal damnation" and physical abuse.

The US court issued a warrant for his arrest on November 10, 2021, the FBI said.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Monday said they are expecting the US to file an extradition request for Quiboloy very soon.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday said there is no request yet from the US government regarding extradition of Quiboloy. —KG, GMA Integrated News