The Department of Justice (DOJ) clarified on Thursday that it has not received any formal request from the United States government to extradite Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.
DOJ Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano explained that under standard procedure, such requests must first pass through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) before reaching the DOJ.
“The regular process would entail the DFA receiving such extradition requests first before it is officially endorsed to the DOJ,” Clavano said. He added, “Verily, no extradition request on this has yet been transmitted to the DOJ.”
The statement came after Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez earlier said that Washington had already submitted a formal request for Quiboloy’s extradition.
Quiboloy’s legal counsel, Atty. Israelito Torreon, confirmed they have not received any official document. However, he noted, “If the reports are true, we respect the prerogative of the United States of America in doing such move as it is in consonance with the provisions of the Extradition Treaty between the US and the Philippines.”
Torreon emphasized that under the treaty, the Philippines has discretion on whether to allow extradition while Quiboloy faces pending criminal cases in the country. “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,” he said.
Quiboloy, arrested in Davao City in September 2024, is currently detained at the Pasig City Jail while facing qualified human trafficking charges. He has pleaded not guilty.
In the US, a federal warrant issued in 2021 accuses him of sex trafficking of children, conspiracy, and labor trafficking. Prosecutors allege he and his associates used fraudulent visas to send church members abroad, forcing them to solicit donations that funded church operations and the lavish lifestyles of its leaders.
