Daven Tamayo

Philippines can temporarily surrender Quiboloy to US for trial - lawyer

Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Pastor Apollo Quiboloy  attends the probe called by  the Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality into his alleged abuses. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Senate Hearing on Quiboloy Abuses

David Dizon

ABS-CBN News

<p>The Philippine government can choose to temporarily surrender Davao-based televangelist Apollo Quiboloy to the United States to stand trial for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud,  coercion, sex trafficking of children, and other charges.</p><p>Atty. Rico Domingo, former president of the Philippine Bar Association and chairman of the Movement Against Disinformation, said that under Article 11 of the Philippines-US extradition treaty, the Philippines can temporarily surrender the accused to the US to stand trial. He noted that visa violations and sex trafficking are offenses covered by the treaty. </p><p>“Pwede naman hingin ang temporary custody ng accused in the States so we can try him also in the States in the federal district court of Sta Ana, California,” he said in the DZMM interview.</p><p>“Pwede temporarily i-surrender. The State Department ibabalik naman ang akusado kung kailangan.”</p><p>He added Quiboloy cannot be tried &quot;in absentia&quot;, which means he must be physically present at the court during trial. </p><p>The trial could also be finished as quickly as six months, he said. </p><style type="text/css">
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</style><div><iframe class="pdf" src="https://od2-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com/api/upload-raw/20250821090820/apollo-carreon-quiboloy%20fbi.pdf" width="100%" height="500"></iframe></div><p>If found guilty in the US trial, Quiboloy could also be returned to the Philippines and face charges filed before the Pasig and Quezon City courts while his sentence is under appeal, Domingo said.</p><p>A US federal warrant was issued against Quiboloy on November 10, 2021 after he was indicted for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion and sex trafficking of children among other charges.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/11/19/21/us-announces-sex-trafficking-charges-vs-apollo-quiboloy">Apollo Quiboloy, founder of Kingdom of Jesus Christ church, indicted for sex trafficking</a></div><p>He is accused of participation in a labor trafficking scheme that brought church members to the United States, via fraudulently obtained visas, and forced the members to solicit donations for a bogus charity. The donations were allegedly used to &quot;finance church operations and the lavish lifestyles of its leaders.</p><p>Quiboloy, the leader of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), was arrested in Davao City on September 8, 2024, and has since pleaded not guilty to charges of qualified human trafficking.</p><p>Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez earlier confirmed the United States has sent a formal request to the Philippines to <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/20/us-sends-extradition-request-for-apollo-quiboloy-ph-envoy-confirms-1858">extradite the controversial televangelist</a> as early as June.</p>

<p>The Philippine government can choose to temporarily surrender Davao-based televangelist Apollo Quiboloy to the United States to stand trial for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud, coercion, sex trafficking of children, and other charges.</p>

The Philippine government can choose to temporarily surrender Davao-based televangelist Apollo Quiboloy to the United States to stand trial for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud, coercion, sex trafficking of children, and other charges.