No FBI extradition request yet for Quiboloy, PH envoy to US says

Apollo Quiboloy
INQUIRER PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — There is no official communication yet from the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation to extradite sect leader and alleged rapist Apollo Quiboloy, Philippine ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez said Thursday.

In a text message to INQUIRER.net, Romualdez said the Philippine embassy in the United States has yet to receive such a request.

“No request has been made…if we get one, we transmit [it] to our Department of Justice, [care of] the Department of Foreign Affairs,” said Romualdez.

In 2022, the controversial sect leader was declared one of the most wanted suspected sex traffickers by the United States.

Quiboloy was indicted by a federal grand jury in the United States for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, sex trafficking of children, and bulk cash smuggling.

READ: Quiboloy admits he is in hiding amid kill plot

In the Philippines, on the other hand, Quiboloy has been declared a “wanted fugitive.” The sect leader earlier admitted that he is “hiding” amid alleged assassination plots against him.

Amid all this mess, the Senate ordered his arrest and detention in the upper chamber for his continued refusal to face a panel’s probe into his crimes.

READ: Quiboloy arrest, detention at Senate ordered

But Quiboloy said he would not face these hearings, dubbing them “bogus.”

Apart from the orders issued by the Senate, a Pasig City court, in April, also axed Quiboloy’s appeal to suspend court proceedings on a charge of qualified human trafficking against him.

The court then issued a warrant for his arrest for the non-bailable offense.