The camp of detained religious leader Apollo Quiboloy on Thursday blasted what it called the “suspect timing” of the United States’ move to extradite him, warning that granting the request would trample on Philippine sovereignty and national dignity.
“We view with much trepidation the impending extradition of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy to the United States,” lawyer Ferdinand Topacio said in a statement. “The timing is suspect. It comes at a time when the present administration is deeply mired in serious controversies involving widespread anomalies in its flood control projects, insertions in the national budget and a humiliating fiasco in its attempt to neutralize the opposition by impeaching the Vice President.”
Topacio insisted that Quiboloy, who is already facing criminal cases in Philippine courts, should not be handed over to a foreign government. “Such meek submission would cause deep and irreparable damage to our psyche as a people, and something that we will never be able to live down,” he added.
But the Department of Justice (DOJ) maintained that no formal extradition request has been received. DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano IV explained that the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) must first receive the request before endorsing it to the DOJ.
“In this case, DFA has not received any request. The DOJ could not have officially received the request as well. Verily, no extradition request on this has yet been transmitted to the DOJ,” Clavano clarified.
He added that under Philippine law, extradition cannot proceed while local criminal cases are pending. “In general, a person cannot be extradited from the Philippines while a criminal case against him is still pending in our courts, since local jurisdiction takes priority,” Clavano said.
This comes as reports quoted Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez as confirming that U.S. authorities had already submitted documents seeking Quiboloy’s extradition to face charges of sex trafficking of children, conspiracy, fraud, and bulk cash smuggling.