Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. stated on Monday that evangelist preacher Apollo Quiboloy will not receive special treatment following his arrest on Sunday, after a prolonged police search for the prominent pastor. Quiboloy, who has proclaimed himself the 'owner of the universe' and the 'appointed son of god', is sought on charges of child and sexual abuse, as well as allegations of human trafficking in the Philippines. Additionally, he is wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the US on charges of sex trafficking and bulk cash smuggling. Quiboloy, who denies all charges, has a following of millions in the Philippines, where church leaders exert significant influence in politics.
'There is no special treatment,' Marcos told reporters on Monday. 'We will treat him like any other arrested person and respect his rights.' He further added, 'We will demonstrate once again that our judicial system in the Philippines is active, vibrant, and working.' Over 2,000 policemen were deployed to search for Quiboloy, who had been hiding inside a 'Bible school' at the expansive compound in the southern city of Davao owned by his church, the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), according to police reports on Monday. Police had given Quiboloy until Sunday to surrender, or they would 'assault' the building, as stated by Davao regional police chief Nicolas Torre during a press briefing on Monday. Quiboloy was presented to the media on Monday, but his face was hidden by a cap, sunglasses, mask, and scarf.
Quiboloy's lawyer, Israelito Torreon, stated that the pastor surrendered to the police and military to prevent the situation from escalating further. 'The innocence of Quiboloy will be affirmed by the court,' Torreon told DZBB radio. 'The surrender was a formality. At the end of the day, whether he likes it or not, the end result will ultimately be the same,' Torre said. Interior Minister Benjamin Abalos Jr. announced during the same briefing that the government is seeking to file charges against individuals who assisted Quiboloy in evading arrest. Quiboloy is also a long-time friend of former president Rodrigo Duterte, who has filed a criminal complaint against Abalos and several police officers for damaging Quiboloy's property.
Marcos revealed that Quiboloy's camp had set conditions for his surrender, including a guarantee that he would not be sent to the United States to face charges. 'Putting conditions is not an option for someone who is a fugitive,' Marcos said, describing the law enforcement operation to capture Quiboloy as 'police work at its best.' 'It is with some relief that I can say that this phase of the operation is over. We will now leave Quiboloy to the judicial system,' he said. The Philippines' Department of Justice acknowledged the country's extradition treaty with the US but stated on Monday that Quiboloy will first face trial and serve any sentence in the Philippines before any extradition request is granted.
