MANILA, Philippines — All the conditions demanded by Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy for his surrender are “immaterial,” President Marcos said on Wednesday.
“It seems like he (Quiboloy) doesn’t fully understand the process … once the court issues a bench warrant or warrant for arrest, it’s no longer in our hands. It’s in the court’s hands,” Marcos said in mixed English and Filipino during a media interview.
The President said that the fugitive evangelist should address his concerns directly to the courts.
“He needs to talk to the court. Our role in the executive branch now is simply to arrest him. So, all the conditions he’s setting are immaterial,” he said.
Quiboloy set conditions for his surrender, including a guarantee from Malacañang that he would not be extradited to the United States, where he faces charges of child sex trafficking.
US authorities have indicted Quiboloy for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking through force, fraud, and coercion, as well as the trafficking of children.
In April, a Pasig City court issued an arrest warrant for Quiboloy on charges of qualified human trafficking. He also faces an arrest warrant for child and sexual abuse from the Davao City Regional Trial Court.
Despite these charges, Quiboloy remains at large.
The national government has also offered a P10 million bounty for anyone who provides information leading to the arrest of the fugitive.
The Philippine National Police recently attempted to serve the arrest warrant on June 10 at the KOJC compound in Davao City. However, they are still searching for Quiboloy, who is believed to be hiding within the KOJC compound.
