Dela Rosa joins call for fugitive pastor to surrender
The Philippine government could not guarantee that fugitive pastor Apollo Quiboloy will not be extradited to the United States, the Department of Justice said on Saturday.
This after Quiboloy’s camp reiterated the embattled pastor’s condition for President Marcos to issue a written guarantee that he would not be extradited to the US where he was indicted for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion, and sex trafficking of children.
“As to the guarantee that he is asking for, no one in the government can give that guarantee,” DOJ Undersecretary Raul Vasquez said during the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.
“That is a legal issue that needs to be carefully studied because in the first place, no government official would want to violate the law. And all our treaties have the force of law once they are signed and concurred in by the Senate. That is part of our legal obligation. And you can just imagine if we renege on our international obligation in favor of an individual,” he added.
Vasquez, however, noted the US has yet to request Quiboloy’s extradition.
The police are now halfway through its search at the Kingdom of Jesus Christ compound in Davao City to find Quiboloy.
On Saturday, Senator Ronald dela Rosa urged Quiboloy to surrender so that the lives of KOJC members could “return to normal.”
“I am also among those who would like to urge Quiboloy to surrender so that peace would return in the KOJC compound in Davao and for the lives of its people to go back to normal,” he said in a radio interview.
Dela Rosa is an ally of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who serves as administrator of KOJC properties after arrest warrants were issued by Davao City and Pasig courts against the pastor and his accomplices.
“If only we could encourage him to surrender but at the end of the day, it’s his call,” Dela Rosa said.
Interior chief Benhur Abalos also urged Quiboloy to surrender and face the charges filed against him.
“Your claim of innocence can have due process, which is through the court. Surrender and face the accusations against you,” Abalos said.
