THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) yesterday said Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro did not receive any letter from Washington requesting the extradition of Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder Apollo Quiboloy.
DFA spokesperson Angelica Escalona, citing the earlier statement of Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez, said the letter request was supposedly sent directly to the Department of Justice (DOJ) sometime in June this year.
“As Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez stated, the documents were sent to the DOJ as early as June and not to DFA,” Escalona said.
DOJ Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Jose Dominic Clavano did not directly respond to reporters’ questions when asked about the matter.
He instead explained the process involved when a foreign country requests for the extradition of any Filipino.
“The regular process would entail the DFA receiving such extradition requests first before it is officially endorsed to the DOJ,” he said.
In Quiboloy’s case, Clavano said, the “DFA has not received any request,” thus, “the DOJ could not have officially received the request as well. Verily, no extradition request on this has yet been transmitted to the DOJ.”
Washington’s extradition request is anchored on its extradition treaty with Manila, which was signed on November 13, 1994, and entered into force on November 22, 1996. The treaty outlines the framework for the two countries to surrender individuals accused or convicted of crimes to the respective jurisdiction where the offense was committed.
Quiboloy has been charged in the United States for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, sex trafficking of children, conspiracy, and bulk cash smuggling.
He is also included in the US Federal Bureau of Investigation’s list of most wanted persons.
DEFER DECISION
Quiboloy’s camp said the Marcos government should exercise its “sovereign option” and wait for the resolution of the pastor’s local cases before considering Washington’s request.
In a statement, Quiboloy’s lead counsel Israelito Torreon said: “We can only manifest our sincerest hope that the Philippine government would exercise its sovereign option to allow the Philippine courts to fully exercise its jurisdiction over Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy’s case before it will decide to transfer Pastor ACQ to the US.”
Quiboloy, who was arrested last year after weeks in hiding inside the KOJC compound in Davao City, is facing trial for qualified human trafficking, a non-bailable offense under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, before the Pasig City Regional Trial Court.
He also has a pending case for child abuse and exploitation before a Quezon City court.
Quiboloy is currently detained at the Pasig city jail.
Torreon said their camp has not received any official document related to Washington’s extradition request.
