MAKATI CITY, Philippines — Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder and televangelist Apollo Quiboloy, along with two of his associates, faces possible extradition to the United States after a local court issued arrest warrants and hold departure orders against them, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Friday, November 13.
The Makati City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 145 issued the warrants and orders on Thursday, November 12, following an extradition petition filed by the Philippine government on behalf of the United States on November 9.
Alongside Quiboloy, the legal actions cover Teresita Tolibas Dandan and Helen Panilag.
The court determined there is probable cause that the respondents are the individuals named in the US indictments, that the alleged offenses are extraditable, and that each individual committed the acts charged.
“At the same time, said court likewise issued a Hold Departure Order against each extradite, to prevent any attempt by each of them to depart from the Philippines,” the DOJ stated.
Under the Supreme Court’s Rules on Extradition Proceedings, the respondents must be taken into custody before they can be personally served with court summonses, copies of the petition, and supporting documentation. Once served, they have a 15-day window from receipt to file a verified answer with the court.
The extradition proceedings stem from a November 2021 federal indictment in the United States. The charges include conspiracy, child sex trafficking, sex trafficking through force, fraud, and coercion, marriage and visa fraud, money laundering, and bulk cash smuggling.
US authorities allege that Quiboloy and other KOJC officials ran a criminal operation that exploited church members, including minors. Quiboloy has consistently denied these allegations.
In addition to the US extradition proceedings, Quiboloy faces multiple criminal cases within the Philippines, including qualified human trafficking charges in a Pasig City court and child and sexual abuse cases in Quezon City.
He was previously arrested in September 2024 and remains detained at the Pasig City Jail.