The lawyer of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy insisted the allegations against him were “politically motivated” in their media appearance on Sunday.
The wanted poster of Quiboloy and two other officials of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ church in connection with their involvement in alleged labor trafficking, sex trafficking, cash smuggling, and other crimes appeared on the website of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Friday.
The Quiboloy camp asked why the poster was released just now when there will be elections in the Philippines?
“We all have to be in a state of abject denial to say that the United States has not been interfering with our elections since as far as we can remember,” said Ferdie Topacio.
Quiboloy’s lawyer in the United States, Michael Green, said the accusers were lying.
“They were part of this kingdom for over a decade [and] not one bad word about the pastor, until they were found to be corrupt,” Green said.
One of the former accusers of Quiboloy immediately calmed down.
In a Facebook post, Arlene Caminong Stone said that Quiboloy’s lawyers did not answer the most critical questions – whether he really did not victimize minors, and was he not involved in scams?
“To be trafficked while you are a minor just to beg on the streets for his bogus organization, is that a lawful practice?” said Stone.
Topacio said that his client would follow the process.
Aside from the cases Quiboloy faces in the United States, he has also previously been charged with rape, child abuse, and human trafficking by a woman in Davao.
But the case was dismissed by the Davao City prosecutor in 2020 and has now been appealed to the Department of Justice.
Allegations vs. Quiboloy ‘politically motivated’ – lawyer
If the DOJ reverses the resolution, it could add to the case’s complications because his cases here in the country must be completed before Quiboloy can be deported.
But there is still a way, according to Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra.
“Hindi naman ibig sabihin na kung may local case ang isang subject of extradition dito sa Pilipinas ay hindi na siya ma-e-extradite in the meantime. Nasa pag-uusap ‘yan ng dalawang government kung pupuwedeng ipahiram muna ‘yung person…doon sa foreign government so that this national, this Filipino or whatever ay ma-try din in the US court,” said Guevarra.
And while there is no formal request from America for Quiboloy’s extradition, there are things that can be done to prevent his escape.
The US may request provisional arrest.
The complainant in Davao can also request an immigration lookout bulletin order to alert the authorities if Quiboloy leaves.
The DOJ may also voluntarily issue it depending on the evidence and the course of events.
Based on the FBI poster, the hearing of the cases against Quiboloy in America is scheduled for March 2023.
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