Quiboloy camp respects US extradition request but hopes PH courts take priority

Metro Manila, Philippines - The camp of detained religious leader Apollo Quiboloy said it respects the United States’ reported request to extradite him but urged the Philippine government to allow local courts to first exercise jurisdiction over his pending cases.

“We have yet to receive an official document proving that there is indeed an extradition request being filed by the United States Government,” Quiboloy’s team said in a statement on Thursday, Aug. 21.

“If the reports are true, we respect the prerogative of the United States of America in doing such a move as it is in consonance with the provisions of the Extradition Treaty between the US and the Philippines.”

The camp noted that under Article 11 of the treaty, it is within the discretion of the requested state whether to allow extradition while local proceedings are pending.

“We can only manifest our sincerest hope that the Philippine government would exercise its sovereign option to allow the Philippine courts to fully exercise its jurisdiction over Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy’s case before it will decide to transfer Pastor ACQ to the US,” the statement read.

The US formally transmitted extradition documents to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez confirmed on Wednesday. DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano explained that Philippine law generally bars extradition while local criminal cases are pending, though courts may act with urgency to avoid delays.

The Department of Foreign Affairs also clarified its role in the process.

“Secretary of Foreign Affairs Ma. Theresa Lazaro did not receive the US extradition request for Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Apollo Quiboloy,” the DFA said. “As Ambassador Romualdez stated, the documents were sent to the DOJ as early as June and not to DFA.”

Quiboloy, 74, founder of the Davao City-based Kingdom of Jesus Christ and a longtime ally of former President Rodrigo Duterte, has been detained since September 2024 after a 16-day manhunt.

He faces charges in the Philippines and a 2021 US federal indictment alleging sex trafficking of children, conspiracy to engage in trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, and bulk cash smuggling. Prosecutors said girls as young as 12 were forced into labor and sexual servitude under what was described as “night duty.”

The Philippines and the US have an extradition treaty signed in 1994 covering serious offenses that are crimes in both countries.