Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla on Monday, Sept. 9, said he expects the United States government will request the extradition of Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder Apollo C. Quiboloy who has been arrested.
“We expect the US to file an extradition request very soon,” Remulla told journalists as he pointed out that the US was just waiting for Quiboloy to be arrested.
Quiboloy has been indicted in the US for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion and sex trafficking of children; sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion; conspiracy; and bulk cash smuggling.
Remulla reminded that the Philippines has an extradition treaty with the US.
“I will be talking with the executive secretary (Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin) tomorrow afternoon (Sept. 10) about this matter,” he said.
Quiboloy is facing before the Quezon City and Pasig City Regional Trial Courts (RTCs) sexual abuse and qualified human trafficking cases, respectively, in connection with the alleged 2011 sexual abuse of a female who was then just 17 years old.
“He will go through the process properly at s’yempre ang priority natin Philippine justice system (and of course our priority is the Philippine justice system),” Remulla said.
Remulla said he has already instructed prosecutors to “prepare all the evidence so we can ask for continuous trial para matapos kaagad ang kaso na dapat litisin (so we can finish the trial of the cases).
“We will ask the Supreme Court kapag nangyari ‘yan ‘wag pumayag ng dilatory tactics para matuloy-tuloy ang trial n’yan para matapos kaagad (when it happens we will ask the Supreme Court not to allow dilatory tactics so that trial will be continuous and be finished quickly),” he said.
With this, Remulla assured that the victim in the case is being protected under the Witness Protection Program (WPP) amid the threats against her.
“Special case ‘yan kasi mabigat ang kalaban dito (It’s a special case because she is facing a powerful opponent),” he said.