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HIGIT na angkop maging maingat ang administrasyon sa usapin ng extradition request ng Estados Unidos para sa kustodiya ni Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.
Sa isang kalatas, ibinahagi ni Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro ang paglulunsad ng motu proprio investigation na hirit no Akbayan Partylist Rep. Perci Cendaña sa nasabing usapin.
“There is an overwhelming public interest and concern over the process by which extradition requests are received, evaluated, and acted upon. It is imperative that Congress, through your Committee, provide a forum where concerned agencies may clarify the status of the present request, explain the legal and procedural steps involved, and identify any gaps or ambiguities in our existing laws and treaties,” sad sa liham ni Cendaña
Inilatag naman ni Bukidnon 2nd Dist. Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores ang pormal na mosyon para katigan ng komite ang hirit ng pagbusisi sa isyu.
“I move that the Committee on Justice conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation in accordance not only with the request of Congressman Cendaña but also to cover PD (President Decree)1069 and all other related laws on extradition,” wika ni Flores.
Wala naman nagpahayag ng pagtutol sa mosyon ni Flores.Gayunpaman, iginiit ni Luistro na kailangan muna magkaroon ng masusing talakayan ang mga mambabatas hinggil sa pangangailangan ng imbestigasyon.
Ayon sa lady House panel head, dalawang mahalagang batas ang dapat pag-usapan — ang 1994 extradition treaty sa pagitan ng US at Pilipinas at ang PD 1069 o ang Philippine Extradition Law, na naisabatas noong 1977.
Ani Luistro, ang dalawang batas ay “silent” sa ilang mahahalagang detalye at maraming katanungan na walang malinaw na sagot sa tratado o maging sa umiiral na batas.
“The following arguments or issue with respect to the existing laws on extradition in the Philippines were raised: one, whether an extradition process may be initiated by a foreign country when the extraditee has pending cases as well in the Philippines; second, what is the timeline between the request by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) [and] the transmittal the Department of Justice (DOJ), in the same manner, what is the timeline between the receipt by the DOJ [and] the filing of the petition for extradition with the proper regional trial court,” litanya ng Batangas lawmaker.
“Number three, it was also raised which court shall acquire jurisdiction over the request for extradition…whether the court which has jurisdiction over the local cases or the court where the extraditee is a resident of as mentioned in the treaty or PD 1069,” dugtong niya.
Sa panig ni Flores, sinabi niyang sa kasalukuyang mga batas ay hindi malinaw kung sino ang may awtoridad na pumili sa pagitan ng temporary surrender at deferred surrender ng extradite.
Samantala, nilinaw ni Luistro na ang pagkakasangkot ni Quiboloy sa imbestigasyon ay insidental lamang.
“This is not about prejudging anyone’s guilt. It is about upholding the rule of law, honoring our treaty commitments, and ensuring that victims see swift, fair, and transparent action,” giit niya.
“Our message is simple: no one is above the law. We will ask the DOJ and DFA to walk the public through the precise legal options—temporary or deferred surrender—and the concrete timeline so justice is neither delayed nor denied,” dagdag pa ni Luistro.
Tiniyak ni Luistro na pagsusumikapan ng kanyang komite na palakasin ang extradition framework ng bansa, tiyakin ang pagpapataw ng pananagutan, at patatagin ang pangako ng administrasyon sa pakikipagtulungan ng Pilipinas sa ibang bansa laban sa mga mabigat na krimen, habang iginagalang ang kalayaan ng mga hukuman. (ROMEO ALLAN BUTUYAN II)
