Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, along with his co-accused, take their oaths during the Senate hearing of the Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality in Pasay City on October 23, 2024. Quiboloy and other members of the religious group face allegations of human trafficking and sexual abuse involving women and children members of the church. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News
MANILA (UPDATED) - The United States government has formally requested the extradition of detained Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder Apollo Quiboloy to face criminal charges in California.
"The formal request has been transmitted to the Department of Justice," Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez told ABS-CBN News.
The development marks the next step in the extradition process after Romualdez disclosed in September last year that Washington was preparing to send a formal diplomatic note seeking Quiboloy's extradition.
At the time, Romualdez said the request would pass through diplomatic channels—from the US Department of Justice to the US Department of State, which would then transmit a note verbale to the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) before being endorsed to the Department of Justice (DOJ).
He also said the Philippine government would ultimately decide whether Quiboloy could be extradited despite his pending criminal cases in the country.
Quiboloy is wanted in the United States over a 2021 federal indictment in California charging him with conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, sex trafficking of children, bulk cash smuggling, fraud, and other offenses.
According to US prosecutors, Quiboloy and several co-defendants operated a scheme that brought church members to the United States using fraudulently obtained visas and forced them to solicit donations for a bogus children's charity.
Prosecutors alleged the proceeds financed the lavish lifestyles of church leaders.
The indictment also alleged that Quiboloy recruited girls and young women, some as young as 12, to serve as his personal assistants, or "pastorals," who were allegedly coerced into performing sexual acts under threats of "eternal damnation" and physical abuse.
Quiboloy, a self-proclaimed "Owner of the Universe" and "Appointed Son of God," is a longtime friend and spiritual adviser of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
The influential evangelist, who is followed by millions of Filipinos, has denied the allegations.
He was arrested on September 8, 2024, after a 16-day operation inside the KOJC compound in Davao City and is currently detained at the Pasig City Jail while facing non-bailable charges of qualified human trafficking and sexual abuse.
In May 2024, the Supreme Court ordered the transfer of Quiboloy's criminal cases from the Regional Trial Court in Davao City to Quezon City, citing compelling reasons, including the public interest involved, Quiboloy's influence in Davao, the possibility of local bias, and concerns that witnesses might be unable to testify freely because of fear and the accused's influence.
Earlier, former Philippine Bar Association president Rico Domingo said the Philippines may temporarily surrender Quiboloy to the United States under Article 11 of the RP-US Extradition Treaty even while his local cases are pending.
Domingo told ABS-CBN News that the treaty allows the temporary surrender of an accused facing prosecution in the requested state, with the person to be returned to the Philippines after the conclusion of proceedings in the requesting state.
The Philippines and the United States signed the extradition treaty in 1994.
DOJ: No receipt yet of US extradition request
The Department of Justice, meanwhile, said there is no official request yet being sent by the US government for the extradition of Quiboloy.
“As of this time, the DOJ has not officially received any document indicating that the United States has formally requested the extradition of Apollo Quiboloy,” the DOJ said in a statement.
The DOJ also said that extradition requests under the Philippine–US Extradition Treaty and applicable law will have to be sent to the Department of Foreign Affairs first as the first point of contact for such a request.
“Initial inquiries may therefore be directed to the DFA,” the DOJ said.
'It’s about time'
Senator Risa Hontiveros welcomed the US extradition request.
"Justice demands that he answer for these crimes in the very places he committed them," Hontiveros said.
"As Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, which heard the heartbreaking testimonies of the women Quiboloy preyed upon, I am relieved that not one but two jurisdictions want to hold him to account for his crimes against women and girls," she added.
"Wala na siyang dapat matirang kahit katiting na impluwensya dito sa Pilipinas. 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. "The Department of Justice must act with dispatch to clear the road toward extradition. Panahon na para papanatagin ang buhay ng mga biktima."
Philippines can temporarily surrender Quiboloy to US for trial - lawyer
Quiboloy's lawyer files rejoinder in obstruction of justice case
Quiboloy attends court hearing with Torre present