US judge orders ‘unsealing’ of arrest warrant vs Quiboloy

US judge orders ‘unsealing’ of arrest warrant vs Quiboloy

MANILA, Philippines — A judge from the California Central District ordered the arrest warrant of doomsday preacher Apollo Quiboloy and his co-accused to be “unsealed”.

According to a report of GMA News, the unsealing was ordered by Judge Terry Hatter Jr. following a request from the United States Attorney Criminal Division which handles the case of the sect leader.

The cases involve charges of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud, coercion, sex trafficking of children, conspiracy and cash smuggling.

In US law, federal judges issue warrants under seal to keep their details from being made public.

With Quiboloy’s warrant unsealed, it could be the first step in initiating an extradition process and the Interpol may include the preacher in the Red Notice, according to GMA’s report. 

An Interpol Red Notice, similar to the list that includes expelled lawmaker Arnolfo Teves, is a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender or similar legal action. It is not a warrant of arrest. 

In the matter of extradition, however, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said that the US government has yet to request an extradition of the preacher. 

Remulla explained that such requests must navigate various channels within the US government, involving the Department of Foreign Affairs before reaching the Department of Justice (DOJ).

On Nov. 10, 2021, a federal warrant for Quiboloy’s arrest was issued. The charges stemmed from an alleged scheme that exploited members of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), the church founded by Quiboloy, by bringing them to the US through fraudulently obtained visas.

The indictment outlined accusations of forced solicitation for a fictitious charity, diverting funds to support the church’s operations and leaders’ lavish lifestyles. It also detailed disturbing aspects, including coerced sham marriages and fraudulent visas for continued solicitation.

Female recruits, called “pastorals,” were allegedly subjected to exploitative conditions, serving Quiboloy in various capacities, with coercive “night duty” involving sexual activities.

In February 2022, the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation placed the doomsday preacher on the most wanted list for “his alleged participation in a labor trafficking scheme.”

Sen. Risa Hontiveros, chair of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality cited the preacher in contempt and ordered his arrest on March 5.

However, the motion was objected to by Sen. Robin Padilla, who currently needs the majority of the committee’s approval to overturn the contempt citation and arrest order. 

RELATED: 5 senators want to block contempt order vs Quiboloy

Philstar.com has reached out to the DOJ and Quiboloy’s general legal counsel, Ferdinand Topacio for comment, but they have yet to respond.