The Philippine government has given assurances that Pastor Apollo Quiboloy will be shielded from capital punishment should he be convicted in an American court, even as the Department of Justice begins examining the extradition documents forwarded by US authorities.
Chief State Counsel Dennis Arvin Chan made the commitment as the DOJ opened its review of the recently received paperwork. “The DOJ would likewise ensure that Quiboloy would not be subjected to capital punishment if convicted in the United States,” he said.
Washington is pursuing the Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder on allegations of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking, sex trafficking of children, and bulk cash smuggling. Quiboloy has rejected all of the accusations, insisting the charges stem from political and religious persecution.
According to Chan, the DOJ expects a favorable outcome in court provided the American request satisfies every condition spelled out in the Philippine-US Extradition Treaty. His office is working to confirm that the petition and its attachments align with the treaty terms before submission.
Central to that process is Article 7, which specifies the material an extradition request must carry. Chan cited requirements such as verifying the identity of the person sought, laying out the facts of the case, and citing the legal provisions defining the offenses. Beyond that, the DOJ must document the applicable penalties and supply details on the prescription of prosecution or of carrying out any sentence.
Chan was careful to note that authority over the request rests with the judiciary, not his department. “The court where the petition will be filed will have to determine whether the petition we submitted and the supporting documents are compliant with the extradition treaty,” he said, adding that approval should follow once compliance and the remaining elements are established.
He also pushed back on the idea that a trial court’s decision would take immediate effect. “Hindi siya final. It can still be appealed. The decision of the trial court in extradition can still be appealed,” he said. The matter, he explained, would move through the ordinary appellate stages: “So it can go through the regular appeal process before it becomes final and executory.”
Chan warned that walking away from its treaty commitments could tarnish the country’s standing as a reliable partner. “The extradition treaty is a formal agreement between the Philippines and the United States,” he said. “It will not look good on us if we do not follow the terms and provisions of the extradition treaty.”
Separately, Quiboloy remains entangled in domestic proceedings. A nonbailable qualified human trafficking case is pending before the Pasig City Regional Trial Court, while child abuse and sexual abuse charges first lodged in Davao City are now being tried by a Quezon City court. Even with the treaty in force, Chan emphasized, extradition is far from guaranteed.
