The House Committee on Justice, chaired by Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro, will launch a motu proprio inquiry into the United States’ extradition request for controversial pastor Apollo Quiboloy, to clarify what lawmakers described as “insufficiencies and ambiguities” in the process.
The inquiry stemmed from a request by Akbayan Rep. Perci Cendaña, who called for a hearing in aid of legislation on Quiboloy’s case. “There is an overwhelming public interest and concern over the process by which extradition requests are received, evaluated, and acted upon. It is imperative that Congress provide a forum where concerned agencies may clarify the status of the present request, explain the legal and procedural steps involved, and identify gaps in our existing laws and treaties,” he said.
Bukidnon Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores formally moved to carry out the probe, which will cover Presidential Decree 1069 (the Extradition Law of 1977) and the 1994 extradition treaty between the Philippines and the United States. Luistro noted that both laws are silent on certain key questions, such as jurisdiction, timelines for action, and procedures for temporary or deferred surrender.
Lawmakers discussed unresolved issues including whether extradition can proceed if the subject faces pending local cases, which court has jurisdiction, and who has authority to decide between temporary and deferred surrender once an extradition is granted. Flores pointed out that the law does not specify who exercises this discretion.
Luistro clarified that Quiboloy’s case was incidental to the broader review. “This is not about prejudging anyone’s guilt. It is about upholding the rule of law, honoring our treaty commitments, and ensuring that victims see swift, fair, and transparent action,” she said. The panel vowed to strengthen the country’s extradition framework while respecting judicial independence.
Hefty prison terms and multimillion-peso fines await those who deliberately spread falsehoods under a bill refiled in the House of Representatives to combat the rise of online disinformation and fake news.
House Bill 3799, filed by Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez and ABAMIN Rep. Maximo Rodriguez Jr., seeks penalties of six to 12 years’ imprisonment and fines of P500,000 to P2 million for offenders proven to have maliciously spread fake news.
The bill defines fake news as deliberately misleading information presented as fact, while disinformation is false content intentionally spread to manipulate public perception or policy. It also lists aggravating circumstances, such as attempts to undermine national security, interfere with elections, or use bots and troll networks.
The measure introduces accountability for public officials, journalists, and influencers with large followings who knowingly disseminate fake news. It also mandates social media platforms to designate liaison officers with the Department of Information and Communications Technology and submit annual reports on anti-disinformation efforts.
