MANILA — Senator Risa Hontiveros welcomed the Makati City Regional Trial Court’s issuance of an extradition warrant and a Hold Departure Order (HDO) against Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder Apollo Quiboloy and two co-accused over sex trafficking charges filed by the United States government.
Following the court’s finding of probable cause on November 12, Hontiveros emphasized that the televangelist, who has spent over four years on the FBI’s Most Wanted List, can no longer avoid legal consequences.
“No one is above the law, anywhere in the world. Not even Apollo Quiboloy,” Hontiveros said in a statement released Friday, November 13.
As chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women, the senator highlighted the resilience of the witnesses who testified during previous Senate hearings.
“Bilang Chairperson ng Senate Committee on Women, hindi ko malilimutan ang tapang ng mga babaeng humarap sa mga pagdinig na pinangunahan ko sa Senado,” she recalled.
While noting that Quiboloy has long retained powerful allies, Hontiveros stressed that the voices of the victims who stood against him remained unyielding.
“He may have evaded accountability for far too long. That ends now,” she added.
The Makati City RTC issued the arrest orders against Quiboloy, alongside Teresita Tolibas Dandan and Helen Panilag, after determining sufficient legal grounds for the extradition request.