Quiboloy is daring US, PH gov’ts by filing candidacy for senator —DOJ

By filing his certificate of candidacy (COC) for senator, Apollo Quiboloy seems to be daring the Philippine and US governments to seek his extradition, the Department of Justice said Thursday.

"Itong pag-file ni Pastor Apollo Quiboloy ng senador ay sa tingin ng DOJ ay isa 'yang challenge po sa ating gobyerno at sa gobyerno ng USA na mag-file na ng extradition," Justice spokesperson Mico Clavano said in a Zoom briefing. 

(This filing by Pastor Apollo Quiboloy for senator is considered by the DOJ as a challenge to our government and the US government to file an extradition.)

"Dahil hindi naman po pupuwedeng maging senador ang isang accused ng human trafficking, especially when there is substantial evidence already to the effect na ganyan talaga ang ginagawa niya," he added.

(Because it's not right for someone accused of human trafficking to be a senator, especially when there is already substantial evidence showing that this is exactly what they do.)

Clavano clarified that the US government has yet to request the extradition of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder.

He said Quiboloy may gain some "sort of protection" should he become a senator.

GMA News Online has sought comment from Quiboloy’s camp but has yet to receive a response as of posting time.

 Quiboloy, who is detained at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame, filed his COC on Tuesday.

Clavano said they want Quiboloy to face the charges against him, “not to make a mockery of the election system, not to make a mockery of democracy.”

He added, “You know, ‘yung COC is not something that can afford you protection. It should not be used as a tool to afford somebody protection.”

Quiboloy and the others are facing charges for child abuse before a Quezon City court.

He is also facing charges for qualified trafficking before a Pasig court.

Aside from his legal troubles in the Philippines, Quiboloy is also facing charges of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, and sex trafficking of children; conspiracy; and bulk cash smuggling in the United States.

Clavano said the US government has not yet made a request to extradite him. However, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez said that Quiboloy's extradition is "inevitable."

Meanwhile, Marissa Duenas, a human resources manager for KOJC in Van Nuys, California, agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to defraud the US in exchange for a reduced sentence.

Duenas admitted to reaching an agreement with others to commit marriage fraud.

Clavano, however, said that it cannot have an official effect on the cases against Quiboloy in the country unless the case is introduced in the country’s judicial system.

“There needs to be steps taken for us to introduce that evidence here in the Philippines as well. Hindi naman ho kasi ‘yan automatic na dahil ho nag-plead guilty siya sa ibang jurisdiction ay nag-plead guilty na rin siya dito sa Pilipinas,” he said.

(Steps need to be taken to introduce that evidence here in the Philippines as well. Just because he pleaded guilty in another jurisdiction doesn't automatically mean he pleaded guilty here in the Philippines.)

“We have to get the plea of guilt also for the cases filed here in the Philippines,” he added.

Clavnao, however, said that prosecutors will try to make use of the admission.

“Pero dahil nandyan na ‘yan, nasa media na ‘yan, syempre gagamitin na ‘yan ng ating mga prosecutor dahil alam na nila na inadmit na ng co-respondent ni Quiboloy sa ibang jurisdiction. I'm sure they will attempt also to do the same here,” he said.

(Since it's already in the media and they know the co-respondent of Quiboloy has admitted it in another jurisdiction, our prosecutors will certainly use this. I'm sure they will also try to do the same here.) — BM, GMA Integrated News