Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) honorary chairperson Apollo Quiboloy welcomes the Philippine Army top leadership during the Memorandum of Partnership Agreement at the SMNI Studio in Makati City on October 24, 2022. Philippine Army Handout photo

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<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17560397968931725068344298Quiboloy-Meeting.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) honorary chairperson Apollo Quiboloy welcomes the Philippine Army top leadership during the Memorandum of Partnership Agreement at the SMNI Studio in Makati City on October 24, 2022. Philippine Army Handout photo</span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Philippine government confirmed this week that the US has sought the extradition of Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Apollo Quiboloy to face trafficking and other charges.</p><p>What is unclear is if the request has been received in Manila and if any processes for extradition have already started.</p><p>As of Wednesday, the request had already been sent to the Department of Justice, <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/20/us-sends-extradition-request-for-apollo-quiboloy-ph-envoy-confirms-1858">according to Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez</a>. The DOJ the same day said it had <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/20/doj-says-has-not-received-extradition-request-for-quiboloy-1741">no information on the supposed request.</a></p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/10/23/200-women-believed-to-have-suffered-sexual-exploitation-at-kojc-says-pnp-1743"><strong>200 women believed to have suffered sexual exploitation at KOJC, says PNP</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;CONSPIRACY&#x27; </strong></div><p>Quiboloy, subject of a manhunt in 2024 for sexual abuse and trafficking cases in Philippine courts, had warned against <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/2/21/quiboloy-claims-us-marcos-conspiracy-against-him-1247">a supposed conspiracy with the US </a>for an &quot;extraordinary rendition&quot; — essentially state-backed kidnapping — to America &quot;<a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/8/30/kojc-explains-why-quiboloy-refuses-to-surrender-1404">without proving his innocence here in the country</a>&quot;.</p><p>Quiboloy, a close ally and spiritual adviser of former President Rodrigo Duterte, said the supposed conspiracy involved &quot;not only rendition, but also elimination.&quot; He said the Marcoses, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Central Intelligence Agency were conspiring to kill him &quot;if possible.&quot;</p><p>He said he would surrender if there was a guarantee he would not be sent to the US for trial, a condition that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. rejected.</p><p>The fugitive pastor <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/9/8/apollo-quiboloy-has-been-arrested-dilg-1827">eventually surrendered to the military</a> in September.</p><p>Quiboloy has denied the allegations in the US and in the Philippines, saying they were made up by disgruntled former members of his group, adding women <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/2/21/quiboloy-accuses-alleged-rape-victims-of-potiphar-s-wife-syndrome-1125">competed with each other to sleep with him</a>.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/regions/2025/5/22/doj-dismisses-duterte-complaint-over-kojc-raid-1810"><strong>DOJ dismisses Duterte complaint over KOJC raid</strong></a></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/N_WUC6wR2J4?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div><div><strong>EXTRADITION TREATY WITH THE US</strong></div><p>Even if the government was willing to, it could not be able to guarantee that Quiboloy would not be made to face his charges in the US, which include Conspiracy to Engage in Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud and Coercion, Sex Trafficking of Children, and Bulk Cash Smuggling, because of an extradition treaty between the Philippines and the US.</p><p>“Meron tayong extradition treaty eh (We have an extradition treaty, so )...<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/8/31/doj-treaty-means-government-cannot-guarantee-quiboloy-will-not-be-extradited-if-requested-1214"> No one in government can give that guarantee, strictly speaking</a><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/8/31/doj-treaty-means-government-cannot-guarantee-quiboloy-will-not-be-extradited-if-requested-1214" class="fr-green fr-strong"></a>,” Justice ﻿Undersecretary Raul Vasquez said in August 2024 while Quiboloy was still in hiding.</p><p>Under the 1994 treaty, parties can request extradition through diplomatic channels.</p><p>These requests should be supported with statements of and details of the alleged offenses and copies of judicial warrants and charging documents.</p><p>The requesting country must also send &quot;such evidence as, according to the law of the Requested State, would provide probable cause for his arrest and committal for trial if the offense had been committed there.&quot;</p><p>A requested state may reject the request if it determines that it is politically motivated, or is for a military offense to be tried by a court martial.</p><p>Extradition will also be rejected if the subject to the request has been tried and convicted or acquitted “in the Requested State for the offense for which extradition is requested.”</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1756039962375642c5d84e206b74e33fd9958a94cc4f8ee5d48dea1caf3dbc4b21446358d5401.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Apollo Quiboloy runs for senator from detention. <em>ABS-CBN News file photo</em></span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;CASES IN PHILIPPINE COURTS TAKE PRECEDENCE&#x27;</strong></div><p>Although the DOJ said it has yet to receive the request reportedly sent in June, department spokesperson Mico Clavano, a lawyer, said that Quiboloy has to face trial and, if convicted, serve his sentence in the Philippines, before extradition.</p><p>Marcos Jr. told reporters last September that &quot;for the moment, we are not looking at extradition but the cases and complaints that he needs to face in the Philippines.&quot;</p><p>Quiboloy lawyer Israelito Torreon this week said that he has not seen the request but that he &quot;respects the prerogative of the United States of America in doing such move.&quot; </p><p>He also said he hopes the government &quot;would exercise its sovereign option to allow the Philippine courts to fully exercise its jurisdiction&quot; over his client.</p><p>Clavano on Wednesday noted that &quot;courts retain the power to act on cases with urgency, so if circumstances warrant, we may move to resolve proceedings in order not to unduly delay a valid extradition request.&quot;</p><p>Under the treaty, the DOJ and its US counterpart &quot;may consult with each other directly in connection with the processing of individual cases&quot; and to improve implementation of the treaty.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/21/philippines-can-temporarily-surrender-quiboloy-to-us-for-trial-lawyer-1723"><strong>Philippines can temporarily surrender Quiboloy to US for trial - lawyer</strong></a></div><p>Lawyer Rico Domingo, former president of the Philippine Bar Association and chairman of the Movement Against Disinformation, said Thursday that temporary surrender to US jurisdiction is an option.</p><p>&quot;The State Department, ibabalik naman ang akusado kung kailangan (The State department can return the accused if needed) ,” he said, adding the trial could be resolved in as quickly as six months.</p><p>In case of conviction in the US, Domingo said, Quiboloy could be tried in the Philippines while that conviction is on appeal.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vSbgwmd76zY?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;VICTIMS IN U.S. ALSO WAITING FOR JUSTICE&#x27;</strong></div><p>Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros, who led hearings into alleged abuse at KOJC, supports temporarily surrendering Quiboloy to US custody since he also has victims in America.</p><p>&quot;<a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/22/quiboloy-s-possible-us-extradition-has-legal-basis-hontiveros-1720">If we continue to delay, we are denying them their right to be heard</a>,&quot; she said, alleging also that Quiboloy is trying to use his influence in the Philippines to skirt accountability in his domestic cases.</p><p>&quot;By allowing temporary surrender, we uphold justice on both sides,&quot; she said.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/9/hontiveros-files-cyber-libel-complaint-vs-ex-senate-witness-vloggers-1236"><strong>Hontiveros files cyber libel complaint vs ex-Senate witness, vloggers</strong></a></div><p>At the House, Deputy Speaker Jefferson Khonghun of Zambales has called extradition a legal and moral obligation under the treaty with the US and under the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime.</p><p>“If we claim to protect our people but allow traffickers to hide here, then we fail not only our victims but also our international commitments,” he said.</p><p>Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr., chair of the House Committee on Human Rights, citing the same convention, said the Philippine government &quot;should make clear that no individual is above the law, and no one accused of crimes as grave as trafficking should be able to escape accountability by hiding behind borders.”</p><p>Abante, who is also a pastor, called extradition a “moral commitment” that would uphold justice, fulfill treaty obligations and “most importantly, [protect] women and children from exploitation.”</p><p>In a separate release, Gabriela Women&#x27;s Party said the extradition request highlights the need to to hold Quiboloy to account for his alleged crimes in the Philippines and in the US.</p><p>The group added accountability must not stop at Quiboloy.</p><p>&quot;Panagutin din ang lahat ng mga backer at protektor niya—kabilang ang mga pulitikong hinayaan siyang maghasik ng lagim kapalit ng pakinabang sa pulitika,&quot; they said.</p><p>(His backers and protectors should also be held to account — that includes politicians who let him wreak havoc in exchange for their political gain) <strong>— from reporting by Adrian Ayalin, Harlene Delgado, Michael Delizo, David Dizon and Jauhn Etienne Villaruel, ABS-CBN News</strong></p>

<p>Although the Department of Justice said it has yet to receive the request, DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano said that Quiboloy has to face trial and, if convicted, serve his sentence in the Philippines, before extradition.</p>

Although the Department of Justice said it has yet to receive the request, DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano said that Quiboloy has to face trial and, if convicted, serve his sentence in the Philippines, before extradition.

WRAP: KOJC leader Apollo Quiboloy faces potential extradition for charges in US

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WRAP: KOJC leader Apollo Quiboloy faces potential extradition for charges in US

Jonathan de Santos,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 24, 2025 10:25 PM PHT

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Apollo Quiboloy

Extradition

Kingdom of Jesus Christ

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