Quiboloy ready to face US extradition process

MANILA, Philippines — Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, who is being hunted by the Philippine National Police (PNP) on charges of rape and human trafficking, is ready to face the extradition process, his lawyer Israelito Torreon said yesterday.

In an interview with “Storycon” on One News, Torreon clarified that Quiboloy’s request to President Marcos is to execute a “written declaration” not to turn him over to the US for “extraordinary rendition.”

“Pastor Quiboloy is not asking for a shield on extradition. What he previously wanted … is he will not be extraordinarily rendered to the US. We are not talking about the extradition process,” Torreon said.

“If there is an extradition process, there is a strong possibility that we will face it because it is in accordance with a treaty,” he said.

He added they cannot fight for Quiboloy’s rights under extraordinary rendition as it is a government-to-government act.

The written declaration must be made by President Marcos, the PNP, the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Department of National Defense, said Torreon.

He stressed that Quiboloy’s request was reasonable, noting that extraordinary rendition is prohibited in the Philippines according to Section 48 of the Anti-Terrorism Law.

But Torreon fears there is still an impending danger for extraordinary rendition to happen to Quiboloy.

“With the might and power of the US, it might sneak out Pastor Quiboloy while he is under the supposed jurisdiction of the courts that are trying him… That’s why we just need a written declaration that if ever that happens, the Philippine government will prevent it,” said the lawyer.

He added that extradition is more advantageous as they can show a lack of basis for the extradition process, unlike in extraordinary rendition where a person is brought to another jurisdiction without hearing the basis of the said action.

Torreon said he is unsure if Quiboloy’s request for a guarantee of protection in exchange for his surrender is still valid, given the ongoing police operations at KOJC’s properties in Davao City.

Quiboloy is facing labor and sex trafficking charges in the US. He is also the subject of three arrest warrants in the Philippines, including one issued by the Senate.

No tunnels

Torreon claims he is not aware of the whereabouts of his client, whom he said he last talked to in March before the Senate issued an arrest warrant.

But he denied police claims that there are tunnels under the KOJC compound.

He also questioned the ongoing police operations, including reported tunneling at the basement of the Jose Maria College Foundation Inc.

There is also the lack of a witness from their camp, he said.

PNP Region 11 director Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III, however, refused to budge, saying that it is up to the KOJC’s legal counsel to prove his accusations.

He also alleged that the picture showing the digging in the basement was heavily edited.

Answering Torre’s claim, Torreon requested the PNP to allow them, along with the media, to enter the basement area.

He said they are asking a court to determine whether tunneling operations fall under “reasonable” actions in serving an arrest warrant.

The KOJC lawyer is also questioning the search of the PNP that goes on until 10 p.m.

“We should know what is… their basis (in digging),” Torreon said, adding that the tunneling may endanger the structural stability of the building.

Quiboloy’s room?

The PNP claims they have found one of Quiboloy’s rooms inside one of the “learning institute” buildings that is located near one of the girls’ quarters.

Torre told media at a press conference yesterday that they recently entered a building where Quiboloy was possibly hiding, but did not find him there.

He said that based on the lavishness of the room of the building, they are positive that it was used by the fugitive pastor.

The police also found a smaller room with 10 girls, aged around 13 to 15 years old, who were sleeping when they entered at around 6 p.m. on Monday.

The girls, he said, were possible victims of human trafficking.

The regional director also found it suspicious that many of the rooms inside the compounds were for girls and women.

“Even the rooms under the basement are for women workers,” Torre said.

Torreon debunked the claim, saying that the PNP was on a fishing expedition.

He said that one of KOJC’s ministries is the Children’s Joy Foundation, which helps orphaned children and gives them a good upbringing and schooling.

He alleged that Torre was saying such a statement “to give a bad image” for Quiboloy.

He also said that there is nothing spectacular about the room described by Torre as most of the rooms inside the KOJC compound look nice.

“Please do not fault us if we have presentable rooms,” Torreon said.

He also said that he is aware of the room that Torre is describing as it is the one near his office.

Since the KOJC women workers are already seen wearing their sleepwear, Torreon said he could not help but wonder if the police are being peeping toms.

Torre, for his part, said the police who searched the women’s quarters are also women, a claim that the KOJC’s lawyer refutes.

After 11 days of its search, the PNP said they were nearing Quiboloy’s arrest.

However, Torre refused to give a deadline for their search operation.

“I am an optimistic person, but not foolhardy to predict things,” he said.

The PNP earlier said human information and their equipment indicate that Quiboloy is still inside the compound, but they admit they are having a difficult time finding him because of the complexity of the KOJC compound’s layout.

Quiboloy’s supporters have also made the police’s search difficult, Torre claimed.

Amid the PNP’s search for the pastor, the Davao City council yesterday unanimously approved a resolution “urging the PNP to uphold the rule of law and respect the Constitution.”

The resolution, authored by Davao First District and committee on peace and order chairperson Coun. Luna Acosta, asks the PNP to ensure that its operation is “done under the bounds of the law.”

“The 20th Davao City Council respects the issuance of the warrants of arrest and supports the PNP’s operation in serving the same but asks that such must be strictly done within the bounds of the law,” the resolution said.

Rights violations?

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said at a House hearing yesterday that several rights of KOJC members may have been violated when the police swooped down on its headquarters in Davao City to arrest its leader Apollo Quiboloy.

CHR Chairman Richard Palpal-Latoc said at yesterday’s House committee on appropriations hearing on the agency’s proposed P1.79-billion budget for 2025 that three CHR investigators have been dispatched to the KOJC headquarters to look into the matter.

Aside from this, the CHR’s regional office for Davao City has also been monitoring the situation in the area.

Upon questioning of Sagip party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, Palpal-Latoc concurred with the lawmaker that several rights may have been violated in the police’s operation, including members’ religious freedom.

In his interpellation, Marcoleta declared KOJC is a religious denomination and “I would surmise that the worship services were interrupted” when the police tried to serve an arrest warrant on Quiboloy.

“These are serious violations of their political and civil rights, maybe like marriages are being celebrated in that compound or probably baptisms,” he added. — Edith Regalado, Sheila Crisostomo, Diana Lhyd Suelto, Janvic Mateo