By el Amigo
MANILA — American authorities have formally asked the Philippine government to extradite Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Pastor Apollo Quiboloy to face criminal charges in the United States, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez said Thursday.
According to Romualdez, the extradition request has been transmitted by the US Department of State to the Department of Justice, with Washington seeking Quiboloy’s immediate transfer because of the criminal cases pending against him in American courts.
Quiboloy was indicted in California in 2021 on charges that include sex trafficking of minors, fraud, and bulk cash smuggling.
Despite the formal request, Romualdez emphasized that the DOJ will ultimately determine whether extradition can proceed while Quiboloy continues to face legal cases in the Philippines.
The Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed that it had received the request from the US government and has already endorsed it to the DOJ for appropriate legal action.
The Philippines and the United States are parties to an extradition treaty signed in 1994. The agreement allows the requested country to temporarily surrender an accused person who is simultaneously facing prosecution at home, provided the individual is returned after foreign court proceedings are completed.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros expressed support for the extradition, saying it would help ensure accountability for the alleged crimes committed against women and girls and provide greater protection for victims who came forward to testify.
She also appealed to the DOJ to process the request without unnecessary delay, stressing that victims deserve justice and peace of mind.
DOJ spokesperson Polo Martinez, meanwhile, said the department had not yet received official information regarding the US request. He explained that under the bilateral extradition treaty, Philippine authorities may either defer Quiboloy’s extradition until domestic cases are resolved or temporarily surrender him to US custody under mutually agreed conditions.
elamigo/xf
