Metro Manila, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. sees the need to carefully study the United States request for the extradition of detained religious leader Apollo Quiboloy, who is wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation over sex trafficking charges.
In a briefing on Monday, August 10, Palace press officer Claire Castro said a decision on the request is expected in a couple of weeks. Authorities confirmed receipt of the US request last week.
“Nakausap natin kanina mismo ang pangulo at sinabi niya na kailangan talaga itong pag-aralan nang mabuti pero in a couple of weeks, magbibigay sila ng anunsyo kung ano ang magiging desisyon para rito,” Castro said.
[Translation: We spoke with the president himself earlier, and he said this really needs to be studied carefully. But in a couple of weeks, they will announce what the decision will be on this matter.]
Castro said Manila has two options in the extradition treaty since Quiboloy has pending cases in local courts.
She said the government could defer his surrender so he can remain in the country while facing trial, or his cases in the Philippines could be temporarily put on hold or suspended so he can face trial in the US first.
Quiboloy is detained at the Pasig City Jail and faces a qualified human trafficking charge before the Pasig Regional Trial Court. He is also facing a separate sexual abuse and child abuse case before the Quezon City RTC.
The religious leader was arrested in September 2024 following a weeks-long police operation that ended with his arrest at the Kingdom of Jesus Christ compound in Davao City.
