MANILA — Conflicting statements between Philippine officials and the country’s ambassador to Washington have fueled uncertainty over the status of an American extradition request for 75-year-old televangelist Apollo C. Quiboloy, founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC).
Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez said the U.S. government transmitted extradition documents in June 2025 and that these are “now with the DOJ.” However, both the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) denied receiving any such request. DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano explained that all extradition papers must first pass through the DFA before reaching the DOJ, while DFA officials likewise said they had not received the documents.
The U.S. Department of Justice has not issued a press release announcing an extradition request and, according to Philstar, declined to comment when asked by media. No public statement from the U.S. Embassy in Manila has been cited in major outlets as of August 23, 2025, and no extradition filings or court documents have been made public.
A Legal Saga Across Two Continents
The extradition dispute is the latest chapter in a legal battle that has spanned several years.
It began in November 2021, when a federal grand jury in California returned a superseding indictment charging Quiboloy and several associates with sex trafficking of children, conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, labor trafficking, bulk cash smuggling, immigration document fraud, and money laundering. Prosecutors alleged that underage girls and women were coerced into sex acts under the guise of religious obedience, while church members sent to the U.S. on religious worker visas were compelled to solicit donations under exploitative conditions.
By February 2022, the Federal Bureau of Investigation listed Quiboloy on its “Wanted” page for human trafficking, appealing to the public for information about his whereabouts.
In the Philippines, scrutiny deepened through 2023 and 2024, when local courts pursued qualified human trafficking and child abuse charges tied to KOJC, and Senate hearings probed reports of exploitation within the church.
Quiboloy was arrested in Davao City in February 2024 after a warrant was issued in connection with Philippine trafficking cases. He was later transferred to Manila and placed under the custody of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).
The international dimension resurfaced in August 2025, when Romualdez stated that the U.S. had transmitted extradition documents. With the DOJ and DFA both denying receipt and the U.S. government maintaining public silence, the episode has underscored the sensitive intersection of law, diplomacy, and politics.
Where Quiboloy Is Now
Quiboloy is detained at the BJMP’s Pasig City Jail Male Dormitory, where he was returned in mid‑February 2025 following hospitalization. On July 20, 2025, the Pasig Regional Trial Court denied his petition for bail, meaning he remains in custody while his local cases proceed. His lawyers have urged that Philippine courts should assert jurisdiction over the pending charges before any extradition is considered.
Diplomatic and Legal Procedures Ahead
The status of any extradition request remains unclear. Under Philippine law, U.S. requests must pass through the DFA before review by the DOJ and eventual referral to the courts. Only after a court ruling can the President authorize surrender.
Article 11 of the 1994 Philippines–U.S. Extradition Treaty provides for temporary or deferred surrender. Senator Risa Hontiveros said the Philippines has a “clear legal basis” under this provision to temporarily surrender Quiboloy to the United States, allowing him to face trial there while still ensuring his return for Philippine cases. She added that U.S. victims “have waited too long for justice” and that allowing temporary surrender would “uphold justice on both sides,” while warning that Quiboloy has used his influence to intimidate witnesses.
