By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Reminiscent of Rod Stewart’s song “Some Guys Have All the Luck,” it seems that self-proclaimed “Son of God” Pastor Apollo Carreon Quiboloy (PACQ) will be taking his sweet time in playing hide-and-seek with authorities as United States authorities have yet to issue a request for his extradition.
This was revealed by Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila, 25 April 2024) as Quiboloy, leader of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) church and spiritual adviser of former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte, is allegedly in hiding.
He has been placed by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on its most wanted list on allegations of “conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion and sex trafficking of children; sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion; conspiracy; bulk cash smuggling,” Romualdez said.
“We were informed that there was potentially a request for his extradition, but so far there has been none coming our way,” Romualdez said when asked by reporters about Quiboloy’s possible extradition.
He explained that action on PACQ depends on the Philippine government.
“So I think, first and foremost, they have to serve that [arrest warrant] first. Now, if a case is filed against him in the Philippines, then the extradition would probably, we’d have to take a backseat,” Romualdez said. “So it depends really on the Philippine government.”
The ambassador also explained the process of extradition.
“Usually it will come to us, but it can also go to the US Embassy. And there are law enforcement representatives at the US Embassy that can make the request directly to our Department of Justice,” Romualdez said.
“From here it will have to come from wherever the court that has the case on this human trafficking, supposedly a human trafficking case,” he added.
(el Amigo/mnm)