MANILA — The Philippine government will begin reviewing the United States’ request to extradite Pastor Apollo Quiboloy for the crimes of sex trafficking, visa fraud, bulk cash smuggling, among others that he is facing there, Malacañang said on Friday.
“Kahapon ay nabanggit ng Department of Foreign Affairs nan atanggap na nila ang request ng US government at ito ay na-endorso na nila sa DOJ (Department of Justice),” Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a recorded video sent to Palace reporters.
“Natanggap na po ngayong araw ang voluminous records mula sa DFA. Ayon sa DOJ sa Lunes nila ito sisimulang pag-aralan,” she said.
“Sa ngayon, ang paghiling ng US government para sa extradition ni Pastor Quiboloy upang malitis doon sa US para sa kasong sex trafficking, visa fraud, bulk cash smuggling, among others, ay isang bagay na dapat na pag-isipan, ma-evaluate, ma-assess at ma-resolba sa tamang panahon para makamtan ang pinakamataas na antas ng hustisya,” she said.
Quiboloy — who heads a religious group — was arrested in 2024 after a two-week standoff between his followers and military and police officials in the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) compound in Davao.
The US has tagged the disgraced pastor as a human trafficker and sex offender after he allegedly forced minors to have sex under threats of “eternal damnation”.
The KOJC leader is also facing qualified human trafficking, sexual and child abuse cases in local courts.