Envoy: US wants Quiboloy ‘asap,’ formally requests extradition from PH

MANILA – The United States Department of State has formally requested the extradition of Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, a ranking official confirmed on Thursday.

In a text message, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez said the US wants to extradite the Filipino televangelist as soon as possible.

“The formal request was transmitted to the Department of Justice. (It was transmitted by the) US State Department… they want Quiboloy asap due to numerous cases in the US,” he told the Philippine News Agency.

The envoy had earlier pointed out that the final say on whether Quiboloy could be extradited despite his pending cases in the Philippines would still depend on the Department of Justice (DOJ).

The US extradition request is in connection with Quiboloy’s 2021 indictment filed in California, which includes charges of sex trafficking of minors, fraud and bulk cash smuggling.

The Philippines signed an extradition treaty with the United States in November 1994.

Under Article 11, it allows the requested state to “temporarily surrender” the person in question if he/she is “being prosecuted or is serving a sentence” in the country.

If the extradition pushes through, Quiboloy would be kept in custody in the US and “shall be returned” to the Philippines after the conclusion of the proceedings against him, based on the treaty.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed it has received the US Government’s request for the extradition of Quiboloy.

DFA Spokesperson Analyn Ratonel said the agency has endorsed the request to the DOJ.

Senator Risa Hontiveros said extraditing Quiboloy to the US would help end the influence that continues to embolden his followers to harass those who testified against him.

“Wala na siyang dapat matirang kahit katiting na impluwensya dito sa Pilipinas (He should no longer be allowed to retain even the slightest influence in the Philippines). His continued presence in this country still emboldens his followers to harass the very survivors who found the courage to speak against him,” Hontiveros said in a statement.

Hontiveros, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, said she was relieved that both Philippine and US authorities are seeking to hold Quiboloy accountable for alleged crimes against women and girls after the Senate heard what she described as heartbreaking testimonies from his alleged victims.

“It’s about time for Apollo Quiboloy to be extradited to the United States of America. He trafficked women and girls from around the world. Justice demands that he answer for these crimes in the very places he committed them,” she said.

The senator urged the DOJ to act promptly on the extradition request to pave the way for the legal process.

“Panahon na para papanatagin ang buhay ng mga biktima (It is time to give the victims peace of mind and a sense of security),” Hontiveros said.

In a statement, DOJ spokesperson Polo Martinez said the agency still has no information on the US request for Quiboloy’s extradition.

He, however, clarified that “as for his pending cases here, the government has two options under Article 11 of the RP-US Extradition Treaty: (a) it can hold off on the extradition until his case here is finished, subject to applicable rules of procedure; or (b) it can temporarily hand him over to the US for trial there, subject to and depending on conditions agreed upon by the US and Philippines.” (with reports from Wilnard Bacelonia/Benjamin Pulta/PNA)

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