MANILA – There is still no formal request from the US government to extradite Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder Apollo Quiboloy, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.
According to Secretary Enrique Manalo, as of now the United States has not yet reached out to the Philippine government for Quiboloy to face his charges there, he said on Wednesday.
“As you know the Philippines has an extradition treaty with the United States of America. I wish to report that as to this date, the DFA has not received a formal extradition request,” Manalo said in a Senate hearing on Wednesday.
He added that, if ever there will be a extradition request from the US, the DFA will first look into whether it is in accordance with the procedure before referring it to the Department of Justice for action.
Quiboloy is facing charges of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, and sex trafficking of children; conspiracy; and bulk cash smuggling in the United States.
Manalo also said that no foreign service posts in the US has received any request or assistance from individuals who may be victims of human trafficking in relation to Quiboloy’s case.
“But all our foreign service posts and all our offices in the DFA stand ready, and we have been in consultation and communications with our sister agencies in government,” Manalo said.
Quiboloy appeared before the Senate, his first since it started its investigation in December 2023, after a regional trial court granted the committee’s request for him and his five co-accused to appear.
The KOJC leader is also facing a child abuse case before a Quezon City court as well as qualified trafficking case before a Pasig court. He has pleaded not guilty to both charges./PN
