MANILA, Philippines — The United States (US) Embassy in the Philippines said on Wednesday that they are confident that religious leader Apollo Quiboloy will face justice for his “heinous crimes.”
Despite repeated denial from Quiboloy himself, the embassy maintained that Quiboloy has engaged in rights abuses, including rape of girls.
READ: Apollo Quiboloy on FBI’s ‘most wanted’ list
“For more than a decade, Apollo Quiboloy engaged in serious human rights abuses, including a pattern of systemic and pervasive rape of girls as young as 11 years old, and he is currently on the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Most Wanted List,” said US Embassy Spokesperson Kanishka Gangopadhyay in a statement.
“We are confident that Quiboloy will face justice for his heinous crimes,” he added.
READ: US Treasury freezes Quiboloy assets
The embassy’s statement was issued after Quiboloy claimed that the US was conspiring with the Philippine government to have him eliminated.
In a separate audio statement released Wednesday, Quiboloy alleged that the Central Intelligence Agency, FBI, US embassy, and US Department of State are working with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Marcos to conduct a “rendition on him.”
Rendition, according to Quiboloy, means that at any time arresting officials can “enter [his] compound and kidnap [him].” But Quiboloy said it’s “not only rendition, but also elimination.” He even claimed that if possible, arresting officials would “assassinate” him.
READ: Quiboloy admits he is in hiding amid kill plot
However, Gangopadhyay declined to engage with Quiboloy’s allegations.
“Questions about legal proceedings should be directed to the US Department of Justice,” he told reporters.
The uproar on Quiboloy’s alleged crimes came after the Senate began its probe on the religious leader.
Senator Risa Hontiveros, who chairs the chamber’s committee on women tackling Quiboloy’s “crimes,” disclosed that a fresh subpoena has been issued against the religious leader.
READ: Hontiveros on Quiboloy: ‘I’ll cite him [for] contempt, have him arrested’
If Quiboloy fails to attend the chamber’s hearing on March 5, Hontiveros said she has no choice but to cite him for contempt and have him arrested.