MANILA (August 11) — The Marcos administration is weighing whether to surrender detained Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Pastor Apollo Quiboloy to the United States, with Malacañang saying Monday that a decision could come within the next few weeks.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has been briefed on Washington’s extradition request but wants the case carefully reviewed before the government takes action.
“Sinabi po niya na kailangan ‘tong pag-aralang mabuti. Pero in a couple of weeks ay magbibigay po sila ng anunsyo kung ano ang magiging desisyon,” Castro said during a Palace briefing.
The request puts the Philippine government before a potentially consequential legal and diplomatic decision involving one of the country’s most prominent religious figures and a US criminal case dating back to 2021.
The US Department of State has formally transmitted the extradition request to the Philippine Department of Justice (DOJ), which is examining the extensive records submitted by the Department of Foreign Affairs.
US authorities indicted Quiboloy in 2021 on charges including sex trafficking of minors, fraud and bulk cash smuggling.
The case is being handled under the 1994 Philippines-US Extradition Treaty, which sets the legal framework for surrendering individuals sought for prosecution or to serve a sentence in the requesting country.
The DOJ earlier said it would first study the voluminous documents before determining what legal action should be taken.
The Palace did not indicate whether Marcos would approve the request, leaving the decision pending as government lawyers assess the treaty obligations, the evidence submitted by US authorities and other legal considerations.
For Quiboloy, the coming weeks could determine whether he remains in Philippine custody or faces proceedings in the United States over the charges filed against him there.
