The Makati Regional Trial Court found probable cause to issue arrest warrants and travel restrictions for Apollo Quiboloy and two co-accused church officers who remain at large. The preacher is currently held without bail in the Philippines on separate domestic human trafficking and child abuse charges, to which he has pleaded not guilty. Officials dismissed speculation linking the judicial steps to President Donald Trump's upcoming visit to Manila for a regional summit. Despite his legal battles, the ally of former President Rodrigo Duterte retains substantial political support, having secured millions of votes in a recent legislative bid from behind bars.
Key points
Local court proceedings must formally conclude before Philippine authorities can decide w…: Local court proceedings must formally conclude before Philippine authorities can decide whether to extradite the detained preacher to America.
Quiboloy remains detained without bail while simultaneously facing domestic human traffic…: Quiboloy remains detained without bail while simultaneously facing domestic human trafficking charges that carry a potential life sentence.
Presidential officials denied that the legal steps against the politically connected prea…: Presidential officials denied that the legal steps against the politically connected preacher were timed around Donald Trump's Manila visit.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
Palace denies timing of warrant is linked to Trump’s visit to Manila next week.
A Philippine court has ordered the arrest of jailed celebrity preacher Apollo Quiboloy, who is wanted in the US on child sex trafficking charges, in a step towards his possible extradition, according to the country’s Justice Department.
The department’s spokesman Polo Martinez told the AFP news agency on Saturday that the Makati Regional Trial Court issued the warrant of arrest and a hold-departure on Thursday after finding probable cause that he committed the offences charged.
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