The Legal Counsel’s Statement
In a recorded video interview with The Manila Times, Ferdinand Topacio, the legal counsel for Apollo Quiboloy, a preacher based in Davao, stated that his client is prepared to face charges of sexual abuse and human trafficking. However, Topacio emphasized that Quiboloy is willing to do so only in the courts and not before the houses of congress that are currently investigating him.
The Proper Forum for Legal Processes
Topacio asserted that it is “too early to tell” if Quiboloy, who has been indicted by US federal prosecutors in Los Angeles, California for sex trafficking, would appear before the House of Representatives and the Senate. Both chambers of congress have taken steps to issue arrest warrants for Quiboloy if he continues to defy their summonses to testify at their hearings.
According to Topacio, Quiboloy’s legal team is ready to face all legal processes and accusations, but they firmly believe that these should be conducted in the proper forum. They maintain that the Senate is not the appropriate venue to determine anyone’s guilt or innocence regarding the commission of a crime. Topacio cited various cases decided by the Supreme Court to support this principle. One such case involved Pharmally director Linconn Ong’s petition against the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, which was filed with the high court in November of the previous year.
The lawyer stressed that the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the courts are the proper forums for his client’s case. He mentioned that some outstanding cases against Quiboloy have already been resolved through these channels. Topacio highlighted that Quiboloy is willing to face the accusations and witnesses, regardless of their number, as long as the proceedings take place in the courts. He emphasized that the courts provide rules of evidence, due process, and a leveled playing field for the presentation of evidence.
The Senate Committee and Allegations of Persecution
Topacio expressed his belief that the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality, headed by Senator Ana Theresia “Risa” Hontiveros, is not the proper forum for Quiboloy to defend himself. He claimed that the committee’s hearings are not conducted to aid legislation but rather to persecute his client. Drawing from his experience, Topacio confidently stated that the accusations against Quiboloy, which he considers trumped-up, will eventually be proven false.
The Possibility of Extradition to the United States
Regarding the possibility of extraditing Quiboloy to the United States, Topacio deemed it far-fetched. He explained that whether the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) would request Quiboloy’s extradition from the Philippines would be a determining factor. Quiboloy, the leader of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, is currently a wanted fugitive by the FBI, and a federal arrest warrant was issued against him in 2021. The charges include conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking, sex trafficking of children, and bulk cash smuggling.
Recent Developments
Last week, Judge Terry Hatter Jr. of the Central District of California ordered the unsealing of the arrest warrant against Quiboloy. The warrant was issued on November 10, 2021, after prosecutors in California announced sex trafficking charges against him. The allegations state that Quiboloy and several others sexually abused female church members aged 12 to 25 in exchange for privileges and to avoid “eternal damnation.” The FBI has described Quiboloy’s assets in the United States as “ill-gotten.” Furthermore, on December 10, 2022, the US Department of Treasury and the US State Department imposed sanctions on Quiboloy and several others for corruption and gross human rights abuses.
The House of Representatives has announced its readiness to issue an arrest warrant for Quiboloy once the Committee on Legislative Franchises signs the contempt order against him. Quiboloy was cited in contempt by the committee due to his repeated refusal to attend hearings investigating his network, Sonshine Media Network International, for alleged violations.
In conclusion, Quiboloy’s legal counsel maintains that the proper forum for his client to face the charges of sexual abuse and human trafficking is the courts, not the houses of congress. They argue that the Senate, in particular, is not the appropriate venue to determine guilt or innocence. The legal team is prepared to go through the legal processes and defend Quiboloy’s innocence in the appropriate forums.
Source: The Manila Times
