Pastor Apollo Quiboloy’s lawyer admitted that the main reason for the fugitive televangelist’s refusal to surrender to police was because he feared American justice more than he feared Philippine justice.
Israelito Torreon, the Kingdom of Jesus Christ’s (KOJC) legal counsel, told reporters that Quiboloy may be subject to “extraordinary rendition” by the United States government for his alleged role in the sex trafficking of girls and women aged 12 to 25.
US prosecutors accused the religious leader of forcing women, whom he refers to as his “pastorals,” to have sex with him.
“There is a threat of extraordinary rendition… he may be brought to America without being given the chance to prove his innocence here (in the Philippines). We are requesting that President Marcos sign a written declaration that he (Quiboloy) won’t be sent to the US to face charges there,” Torreon said in Filipino.
Extraordinary rendition is a euphemism for state-sponsored kidnapping of an individual in another jurisdiction and transferring them to a third state.
It can be recalled that Quiboloy is also accused of sex crimes in the Philippines, specifically, for alleged violations of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.
Meanwhile, the PNP Police Regional Office-11 (PRO-11) accused KOJC members of using laser pointers to try to blind police helicopter pilots involved in the manhunt for Quiboloy.
On Thursday, PRO-11 spokesperson Police Major Catherine dela Rey said in a social media video post that the KOJC members’ actions were dangerous and might injure the pilots’ vision, or worse, cause the police choppers to crash.
“The PNP strongly condemns the recent actions of KOJC members who have been using laser devices against PNP helicopters,” she said.
“Such behavior is a direct threat to the safety and operational effectiveness of our law enforcement aviation units. The use of lasers against aircraft is not only dangerous but also a clear violation of aviation safety regulations and legal standards,” she added.
Dela Rey emphasized that any attempt to obstruct or delay the police operations would only prolong everyone’s agony.
As of Friday evening, the manhunt for Quiboloy was still ongoing inside the 30-hectare KOJC property.
PNP Spokesperson Colonel Jean Fajardo said, police personnel have only covered 40 to 50 percent of the sprawling compound.
She said they have evidence that the subject of the manhunt is still holed up inside the property.
