SEN. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao said televangelist Apollo Quiboloy must face trial in the United States for various crimes including multiple counts of sex trafficking women and sexual abuse of minors.
Interviewed by the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP), the PROMDI party candidate said if he is elected president, he will allow the extradition process due course so Quiboloy can be prosecuted on the criminal charges.
“Meron naman tayong treaty agreement sa US. Ibibigay natin siya sa US dahil doon siya nagkasala. Panagutan niya. (We have an existing treaty agreement with the US. We will have to respect that and hand him over because the charges are filed in their courts. He should face the consequences),” said Pacquiao who skipped a debate for presidential candidates organized by Quiboloy’s Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI).
Pacquiao said like any other person accused of a crime in countries with extradition treaties with the Philippines, the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KoJC) pastor would have to undergo the usual process.
“Papaubaya natin sa authorities… may batas naman tayo tungkol diyan. Kung ano ang magiging desisyon ng ating gobyerno para doon sa kaso sa US, makipag-coordinate naman yan sila sa ating gobyerno para mapabilis o maresolba agad itong problema kung hindi pa siya sumuko o hindi pa nahuli (We will let the matter take its course… we have laws regarding this. Whatever the government decides regarding his cases in the US, we expect them to coordinate with our own government to facilitate resolution of this issue. Unless he turns himself in or is arrested),” he said.
Pacquiao’s lawyer in his libel complaint against Quiboloy before the Makati Prosecutor’s Office said the lawmaker has appealed the dismissal of the case, insisting that the statements made by the respondent were not mere criticism but intended to besmirch his reputation.
“While we respect the decision of the Makati City Prosecutor’s Office, we respectfully disagree. A distinction must be made between mere criticism and the proliferation of fake news. Interestingly, the case was dismissed even without a counter-affidavit from Apollo Quiboloy. To remedy this injustice, we have already filed a motion for reconsideration,” said Nikki de Vega.
Quiboloy, spiritual adviser of President Duterte, has accused Pacquiao of misusing public funds. He has endorsed the presidential candidacy of former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and his running mate, presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.
Pacquiao’s camp said it is prepared to withdraw the complaint if it will hamper efforts of the US government and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to acquire jurisdiction over Quiboloy.
“According to Senator Manny, it is more important to bring justice to the victims of heinous crimes,” the lawyer added.
ICC, DRUGS WAR
The former boxing champ said he will welcome an international probe into President Duterte’s bloody war on drugs if elected, and promised to fight narcotics “the right way,” with due process, not street shootings.
Pacquiao, once a staunch Duterte ally, said he would be open to rejoining the International Criminal Court (ICC), which Duterte unilaterally withdrew the Philippines from in 2018.
Duterte’s presidency has been defined by his war on drugs, during which thousands of alleged dealers have been killed. Rights groups and critics say law enforcers have summarily executed drug suspects, but police say those killed were armed and had violently resisted arrest.
Pacquiao said he will “continue the war on illegal drugs in the right way,” with suspects given a fair trial and rehabilitated.
“When I said the right way, we will not kill them in the streets,” he said. “They will be given the right to defend themselves in court.”
Duterte caused international outrage with his war on drugs and has dared the ICC to investigate him for crimes against humanity. He has maintained those killed were all dealers who had violently resisted arrest and has publicly encouraged police to shoot suspects in self-defence, and said he would pardon those jailed for the killings.
Analysts say an ally getting elected president this year could protect Duterte from any legal action over his anti-narcotics programme.
“I believe there (have been) extrajudicial killings,” Pacquiao said of the crackdown. “We should give justice to those abused.”
Pacquiao, an incumbent senator, has also sparred with Duterte over his approach to defending maritime sovereignty, calling the president’s refusal to confront China “disheartening.”
Pacquiao said he plans to address the problem through a “peace panel” but did not elaborate. — With Reuters
