Philippine justice authorities expect the United States’ formal bid to extradite detained Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Apollo Quiboloy to move forward smoothly, provided all treaty conditions are satisfied.
According to Chief State Counsel Dennis Chan, the Department of Justice (DOJ) officially received the extradition request on August 7.
The agency is currently conducting an evaluation of the submitted documentation prior to deciding whether to bring the petition before a trial court.
During a media briefing, Chan expressed optimism regarding the process:
“So long as the requirements under the extradition treaty are met through the documents that we will be filing, then we are confident that extradition will be granted,” Chan said.
To satisfy legal standards, the DOJ is verifying multiple procedural thresholds. These include validating Quiboloy’s identity, ensuring the principle of dual criminality applies, confirming the alleged offenses carry a minimum prison term of one year, and verifying that the offenses fall within the applicable statute of limitations.
Additionally, state evaluators must guarantee that the accused will not face the death penalty upon conviction in foreign jurisdiction.
The department is still evaluating whether to file the judicial petition immediately or await the conclusion of Quiboloy’s domestic legal cases. Once submitted, the case will be heard by a trial court, whose judgment remains open to higher court appeals.
Commenting on potential delays, Chan noted:
“The Supreme Court did away with any possible dilatory tactics, so we are hoping na once filed, it will not take years,” he said.
A U.S. federal grand jury previously indicted Quiboloy on various charges, including sex trafficking of children, sex trafficking by force, fraud, bulk cash smuggling, and money laundering—allegations the self-proclaimed preacher has consistently denied.
Quiboloy remains incarcerated at the Pasig City Jail. In the Philippines, he faces non-bailable charges of qualified human trafficking alongside separate complaints alleging child and sexual abuse.