PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday said fugitive evangelist Apollo Quiboloy’s conditions for surrendering were “immaterial,” saying the matter was no longer in the hands of the executive department.
Marcos issued the statement after Quiboloy’s camp reiterated the embattled pastor’s condition for the President to issue a written guarantee that he would not be extradited to the United States, where he was indicted for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, and sex trafficking of children.
In a chance interview, the President said the ball was now with the courts following the issuance of the arrest warrants against Quiboloy.
“Perhaps he doesn’t fully understand that when the court issues a bench warrant or warrant for arrest, it is out of our hands already. It is in the court’s hands,” Marcos said.
“He should talk to the court. Because the executive branch our role is to arrest him. So, all of these conditions that he’s putting in are immaterial,” he added.
Quiboloy is wanted for violations of the Anti-Trafficking in Person Act and Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.
He is also on the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s wanted list after a Los Angeles court in 2011 charged him and his associates with conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion; sex trafficking of children; conspiracy; and bulk cash smuggling.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has yet to arrest Quiboloy, but they have so far covered around 40 to 50 percent of the 30-hectare Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KoJC) compound in Davao City, where he is believed to be hiding.
Last week, President Marcos said the PNP did not commit any human rights violation in serving the warrant of arrest against Quiboloy.
“You go to any human rights advocates; there’s nothing that we did — every police officer that entered the compound was not armed,” Marcos said.
“There wasn’t a single gun; we didn’t use tear gas. We didn’t do any of that, so what human rights violation?” he added.
