Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Pastor Apollo Quiboloy arrives at the Senate in Pasay City on October 23, 2024. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News
MANILA — The Department of Justice said there are two options on the possible extradition of Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy: prioritize his pending trafficking cases in the Philippines or immediately hand him over to the US government.
Asked about the pending cases of Quiboloy before the Regional Trial Courts of Pasig City and Quezon City, the DOJ said the Philippine government could either conclude the Philippine cases first or immediately hand him over to the US.
Quiboloy is wanted in the US for sex trafficking, visa fraud and other cases.
US asks Philippines to extradite Quiboloy
“As for his pending cases here, the government has two options under Article 11 of the RP-US Extradition Treaty: (a) it can hold off on the extradition until his case here is finished, subject to applicable rules of procedure; or (b) it can temporarily hand him over to the US for trial there, subject to and depending on conditions agreed upon by the US and PH,” the DOJ said.
The DOJ however emphasized that it has not received yet an official extradition request from the US.
The DOJ also stressed that the first point of contact of the US is the Department of Foreign Affairs.
“Under Philippine law, the DFA determines whether the extradition request complies with the RP–US Extradition Treaty and applicable Philippine laws,” the DOJ said.
Philippines can temporarily surrender Quiboloy to US for trial
The DOJ added that if the request is compliant to the treaty as well as other laws, the DFA forwards the request to the DOJ, which files the appropriate petition before the court.
“Ultimately, it is the court that determines whether the legal requirements for extradition have been met,” the DOJ said.