DOJ optimistic Quiboloy extradition won’t take years

MANILA, Philippines — The chief state counsel said on Thursday that the resolution of the United States’ extradition request for jailed evangelist and alleged sex offender Apollo Quiboloy could face legal hurdles before a regional trial court (RTC) and the Court of Appeals.

In a press briefing, chief state counsel Dennis Chan, however, was optimistic that the process would take only a few months and not years as in previous cases.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has started reviewing the extradition request for Quiboloy, who is facing a standing warrant of arrest in the US for sex trafficking, visa fraud and cash smuggling.

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But first, Chan said the DOJ will have to determine whether the request is in compliance with the 1994 treaty between the Philippines and the US before it can file a petition for extradition before a local court, either in Manila or the place of residence of the accused.

“And if found to be compliant and all the other elements are established, then I do not see any reason for extradition not to be granted,” he added.

The DOJ official cited the latest extradition rules issued by the Supreme Court in April last year, which he said streamlined and fast-tracked court proceedings.

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Dilatory tactics

“So the Supreme Court did away with any possible dilatory tactics. So we are hoping that once filed, it will not take years, maybe we are looking at just a few months here,” Chan told reporters.

A key measure that sought to expedite extradition cases under the new rules was that appeals could be made only up to the level of the Court of Appeals, which must issue a decision within 90 days. Its ruling would then be deemed “final and immediately executory.”

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In the past, the subject of extradition requests could appeal to the Supreme Court, thus delaying the process by years. This was true in the case of the late former presidential adviser and ex-Manila Rep. Mark Jimenez, who faced tax evasion charges and election contribution offenses in the US in 1999.

Although he initially challenged the request, Jimenez eventually opted for voluntary extradition to the US in 2002.

Chan said that DOJ prosecutors are working on the evaluation of Quiboloy’s case “as fast as (they) can, but at the same time ensuring that we are not skipping or cutting corners here.”