QUIBOLOY
QUIBOLOY’S NIGHTMARE
JAILED Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy’s worst fear is being extradited to the United States where he is facing a string of federal offenses punishable by life imprisonment in the unlikely event he is acquitted of all criminal charges filed against him by government prosecutors.
“It would literally be like an eternal damnation for him should he be extradited to the U.S. No more daily visits from his lawyers, family and friends. He will be a very ordinary inmate in an American prison just like the others,” an official involved in all-out government efforts to prosecute and convict the 74-year old Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder told the Journal Group.
U.S. prosecutors in November 2021 indicted Quiboloy and several others for allegedly orchestrating a sex trafficking operation that preyed on victims as young as 12, using threats of “eternal damnation” and physical abuse.
The same month also saw the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation announcing a warrant for Quiboloy’s arrest saying numerous cases and witnesses have surfaced detailing the alleged abuses taking place within the pastor’s supposed sex trafficking activities.
The same source said the FBI has taken custody of some alleged victims of Quiboloy’s sex trafficking network which uses force, fraud and coercion.
His two co-accused identified as Filipino-American citizens Teresita Dandan and Helen Panilag are still being hunted in the country.
Over the weekend, Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez said Quiboloy’s extradition to America is “inevitable.”
“If Pastor Quiboloy is guilty, he has to face the music in the Philippines. But here, he also faces numerous cases and witnesses coming forward openly, citing instances of abuse, human trafficking, sex trafficking, and child abuse connected to the pastor. All these need to go through the justice system,” the official told GMA News.
“So at some point in time we’ll have to face up to it also that the extradition is inevitable,” Ambassador Romualdez said.
For his part, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla Jr. said they are expecting the U.S. to file an extradition request for Quiboloy very soon but the KOJC leader should face the charges filed against him in the Philippines first.
Quiboloy has been charged with violation of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act before a Quezon City regional trial court and a non-bailable qualified human trafficking case under RA 9208 before a Pasig court.
He and his co-accused have pleaded not guilty to the charges filed against them.
‘ANGELS OF DEATH’ PROBED
On orders of Philippine National Police chief General Rommel Francisco Marbil, the Police Regional Office 11 headed by Brigadier Gen. Nicolas D. Torre III is investigating the presence of the so-called “Angels of Death” of Quiboloy who are tasked to go after anybody who will disobey the KOJC founder’s will.
According to PNP spokesperson Colonel Jean Fajardo, the PRO11 has included in its investigation reports that some Army reservists and militiamen who were previously working as “security guards” at the sprawling KOJC compound could be part of the so-called “Angels of Death.”
The official said the “Angels of Death” working for Quiboloy are not mere figure of speech but persons who exist in real life with a mission to intimidate or even “finish off” KOJC members and their families in the event they go against the teachings of the pastor.
“Totoo mga ito and we are already requesting the revocation of their License to Own and Possess Firearms and Firearm Registration. They need to be documented as they are taking orders from Quiboloy,” she said.
Those “Angels of Death” have been mentioned by some victims who have made known their intention to file charges against Quiboloy.
“Sinasabi ng mga batang na-interview na if they will break the code of secrecy being preached by Quiboloy, hahabulin sila ng Angels of Death,” she told newsmen at Camp Crame.
Col. Fajardo said the victims are young children who have expressed fear that they and their families would be targeted.
“This is the reason why the police force is assuring the complainants and all would-be complainants that they would be fully secured. Malaking bagay talaga na nasa kulungan na si Quiboloy,” she said.
The official said at least two of the complainants, just like five other female victims, have made the same revelations.
“Halos pareho ang mga statements nila. Kung papaano pinangakuan sila na pag-aaralin, aalagaan as early as 12 years old kung saan nag-start ang paggamit sa kanila. Me pattern of abuse talaga,” she said.
Col. Fajardo emphasized that the complainants were still minors when they were subjected to sexual abuse.
“A minor cannot give a valid consent at kahit gusto nila, papasok pa din yan sa child molestation kasi nangyari ang mga ito habang musmos pa sila,” she said.
Brig. Gen. Torre requested that the names of the complaints as well as some suspected members of the KOJC leader’s “Angels of Death” be withheld in the meantime.
However, Col. Fajardo said the PRO11 is already looking at the previous records of some “persons of interest.”
She added that the PRO11 is also looking at claims by complainants that there are still several other victims which are yet to leave the KOJC compound for fear that their families will suffer.
The PRO11 is coordinating with the Department of Social Welfare and Development their plan to rescue the supposed victims.
