Quiboloy camp urges PH courts to assert jurisdiction vs US extradition bid

MANILA, Philippines — The legal camp of detained doomsday preacher Apollo Quiboloy has appealed to the Philippine government to allow local courts to resolve his case before acting on a reported extradition request from the United States.

In a statement on Thursday, August 21, lawyer Israelito Torreon said they have yet to receive any official document from the US government regarding the extradition.

"Hence, 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 (ACQ) case before it decides to transfer Pastor ACQ to the U.S.,” Torreon said in a message to reporters. 

However, he noted that if the reports are true, they respect the US' right to file such a request under the extradition treaty between the two countries.

Torreon also said they recognize that the U.S. could request a provisional arrest under Article 9 of the treaty, but they believe it is unnecessary since Quiboloy “is in jail awaiting resolution of his motion for reconsideration from the denial of his petition for bail."

"We likewise recognize that under Article 11 of the Treaty, it is within the discretion of the requested state (Philippines) whether to allow Pastor ACQ to be extradited to the U.S., whether the case against him is pending or has already been decided,” Torreon said.

On Wednesday, August 20, the Philippine Ambassador to the United States, Jose Manuel Romualdez, confirmed that Washington has been seeking the extradition of Quiboloy to face charges in the United States.

RELATED: US seeking Apollo Quiboloy's extradition — PH ambassador

However, as of writing, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Justice said that they have yet to receive any request or documents from the US

Quiboloy is wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for alleged participation in a labor and sex trafficking scheme.

Charges include conspiracy to conduct human and sex trafficking, money laundering, immigration fraud, and bulk cash smuggling.

The indictment alleges he forced church members to solicit funds fraudulently in the U.S. through sham marriages and visa fraud, where money raised was used for the operations of his “church, the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC).”

He is currently detained in Pasig City Jail along with other officials of KOJC due to child and sex abuse charges.