MANILA, Philippines – Doomsday preacher Apollo Quiboloy finally faced the court on Monday, September 9, after 5 months of evading multiple warrants and 2 weeks of an intense manhunt in his sprawling compound in Davao City.
Quiboloy was brought to the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) on Monday for a return of warrant over charges of sexual abuse of minor and child cruelty. These are bailable charges—P180,000 for sexual abuse of minor, and P80,000 for child cruelty.
Quiboloy was taken into custody Sunday night, September 8, after 2 weeks of protracted police operations surrounding the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) compound in Davao City. Police said that Quiboloy was given a 24-hour ultimatum Friday before cops entered a crucial building in the complex. The pastor surrendered to the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) after negotiations on Sunday, police said.
Quiboloy will be taken to the Pasig Regional Trial Court (RTC) within the day for the return of warrant of the trafficking charges against him. This is the non-bailable case.
The charges in QC were transferred from Davao after the Supreme Court approved prosecutors’ motion for a transfer. This is done on cases where prosecutors believe the security is at risk in that judicial region, or the defendant has influence there.
Quiboloy is also wanted in the United States for sexual trafficking of children. Trial for the other defendants in custody are already ongoing in California. The United States will have to request for an extradition if it wants Quiboloy in its jurisdiction and to try him in US courts.
It will be up to Philippine authorities to decide whether they will allow Quiboloy to face his cases in the US first, or to finish his cases here before he is sent to the United States.
Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Quiboloy “will be tried first in the Philippines for crimes he committed here, and if convicted, must first serve his sentence before granting any request for extradition by the US.”
– Rappler.com