No extradition request for Quiboloy from US yet, says DFA

Photo from Senate PRIB

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government has yet to receive any extradition requests for Apollo Quiboloy from the United States (US).

Speaking at the Senate panel on women’s Wednesday hearing, Foreign Affairs Secretary Manalo disclosed the matter, expressing the Philippines’ willingness to study any extradition request should the country receive one.

“As you know, the Philippines has an extradition treaty with the United States of America. I wish to report that as of this date, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has not yet received a formal extradition request from the US,” said Manalo.

READ: Quiboloy admits he is in hiding amid kill plot

A little later in the hearing, Manalo said the DFA needs to see whether the request, should one come in, is consistent with the agreed procedure pertaining to extradition between the two nations.

“So we have to study that and if we are satisfied with the request, we will refer it to the Department of Justice for relevant action,” said Manalo.

“In other words, we will still have to study any extradition request if [we do] receive [such a request],” he added.

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

READ: ‘Excessive, unnecessary force’ used in bid to get Quiboloy – Ex-Pres. Duterte

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.

In the Philippines, Quiboloy has been declared a “wanted fugitive.” He previously went into hiding amid reports of an alleged assassination plot against him.

Quiboloy was arrested by authorities on September 8.

Among the allegations that Quiboloy is facing include large-scale human trafficking and rape of the members of his church Kingdom of Jesus Christ.