The camp of megachurch leader Apollo Quiboloy on Thursday said it respects the U.S. government’s request to extradite the detained pastor, but noted it might be unnecessary at the moment as the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder is awaiting trial.
Lawyer Israelito Torreon, Quiboloy’s legal counsel, acknowledged reports that the U.S. government is seeking the extradition of his client. He, however, said they have not yet received any official document related to such development.
“If the reports are true, we respect the prerogative of the United States of America in doing such move as it is in consonance with the provisions of the Extradition Treaty between the US and the Philippines,” Torreon said in a media statement.
“We are likewise cognizant that under Article 9 of the Treaty, the US can even request for the provisional arrest of the subject, however, we feel that such request may not be necessary as of the moment in light of the fact that the ‘urgency’ requirement is absent in this case,” he added.
Torreon noted that Quiboloy is currently awaiting the court’s resolution on his motion for reconsideration after it denied his petition for bail. He urged the Philippine government to exercise its jurisdiction first before deciding to extradite the KOJC leader to the U.S.
Quiboloy has been in the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) ‘Most Wanted’ list for several alleged crimes, including conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, sex trafficking of children, and bulk cash smuggling, among other charges.
He was arrested by the Philippine National Police (PNP) in September 2024 after more than two weeks of standoff at the KOJC compound in Davao City. The regional trial courts of Pasig and Quezon cities are handling his separate cases of human trafficking and sexual abuse in the country.
