The President also clarified the seemingly contradictory reports about how Quiboloy came into government custody on Sunday.
“The extradition of the televangelist is now under the jurisdiction of the courts and no longer within the Executive branch's control. We in the Executive have fulfilled our role by executing and enforcing the court’s arrest order,” Marcos told reporters at a trade forum on Monday.
However, he noted that the United States had not yet submitted an extradition request, despite the fact that the preacher is already wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation on various charges, including sex trafficking, child sex trafficking, conspiracy, and bulk cash smuggling.
On Monday, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla stated, “We anticipate that the US will submit an extradition request soon, now that he is in custody. Additionally, we have a treaty with the US, regardless of local laws.”
The bilateral treaty between the Philippines and the United States took effect on July 27, 1995, eight months after it was signed on November 13, 1994.
**Did He ‘Surrender’?**
Meanwhile, President Marcos stated that the government is primarily focused on prosecuting Quiboloy for the criminal charges filed against him in the Philippines. The televangelist faces a non-bailable qualified human trafficking case in a Pasig City court and charges of sexual abuse of minors and maltreatment in Davao City, which are now pending in Quezon City.
“Our focus is on the cases and complaints already filed here in the Philippines, which he needs to address first,” the President said.
Marcos also sought to clarify the misconception that Quiboloy surrendered voluntarily. According to Quiboloy's lawyers, he turned himself in on Sunday.
“What I understand is that a proper surrender involves the accused going to a police station or prosecutor and stating, ‘I am surrendering, I am aware of the arrest order, so I am surrendering.’ That is not what happened here,” Marcos explained.
“The debate since Sunday night has been whether Quiboloy surrendered voluntarily or was apprehended. While that is a legal question, I believe he wouldn’t have surrendered if we hadn’t pursued him as we did,” he added.
The ongoing search at the KJC compound and subsequent activities prompted Quiboloy to surrender, Marcos noted.
“That convinced Mr. Quiboloy that continuing to hide was futile and that he needed to come forward,” he said.
Marcos recalled receiving messages and indications over the past two to three weeks that Quiboloy was considering surrendering, but had conditions, including a demand that he not be handed over to the US.
“We made it clear to his representatives, particularly his lawyer, that we could not agree to their conditions, and while they hesitated, we continued with the manhunt,” the President said.
“Yesterday, between 8 and 9 a.m., we received another message saying Quiboloy was ready to surrender, without conditions. We agreed to this,” Marcos continued.
Quiboloy requested to surrender to the military due to a lack of trust in the police. “We agreed to this arrangement and gave the order to proceed,” Marcos added.
**Military’s Role**
At 3:40 p.m. on Sunday, a C-130 aircraft was dispatched to Davao City to transport Quiboloy, with military officers boarding to handle the situation at the KJC compound.
“He was flown to Manila on the C-130 to face his case in Pasig court,” Marcos said.
Explaining the military's involvement, the President noted that the police were becoming exhausted after hours of operation at the KJC compound. “We brought in soldiers from the AFP to relieve our police officers,” he said. The soldiers were later withdrawn when the Philippine National Police resumed their duties.
Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos also challenged the claim of Quiboloy's voluntary surrender, calling it “exaggerated stories.” “He had no escape routes and was ultimately found hiding. The PNP located him and he surrendered to them,” Abalos stated at a press conference with PNP Chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil and Davao Regional Police Chief Brig. Gen. Nicolas Torre III.
“Our police officers were determined and followed my instructions not to leave the KJC compound until Quiboloy was found. That’s precisely what they did,” Abalos added.
Marcos praised the police operation at the KJC compound, stating, “This is police work at its best. It shows what the PNP can achieve with strong leadership and coordination with other agencies.”
Regarding Quiboloy, Marcos said: “He claimed his followers would die for him but did not want this to happen. So, to his credit, he showed some leadership.”
Asked if Quiboloy might receive special treatment, Marcos replied, “We don’t know what ‘special treatment’ might entail. We will treat him like any other arrested individual, respecting his rights and following due process.”
He pledged transparency in Quiboloy's cases. “Everyone involved will be held accountable, and we will demonstrate to the world that the Philippine judicial system is active, vibrant, and functioning well,” the President concluded.
0 comments:
Post a Comment