The U.S. is seeking the extradition of Philippine celebrity preacher Apollo Quiboloy over charges of sex trafficking, money laundering, marriage and visa fraud amid a slew of allegations. Mr Quiboloy is currently housed in a Philippine jail over a slew of other sex-related crimes.
The Philippine ambassador to the U.S., Joseph Manuel Romualdez, said there was a sense of urgency in America’s request to have the pastor handed over as soon as possible.
“The formal request was transmitted to the Department of Justice. (It was transmitted by the) U.S. State Department… they want Quiboloy asap due to numerous cases in the U.S.,” Philippine News Agency cited Mr Romualdez as saying.
Mr Quiboloy, founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ Church, made the FBI’s “most-wanted” list after underage girls and young women accused him of threatening them with “eternal damnation” if they failed to engage in sexual intercourse with him and do his bidding.
Among allegations were that the female members of his church, appointed as “pastorals”, were required to clean his house, cook his meals, massage his body and engage in sexual activities with him during “night duty”.
Mr Romualdez said that he had forwarded the extradition request to the Department of Justice, which will process its approval or rejection.
In the Philippines, Mr Quiboloy, 76, was facing multiple charges of human trafficking, child and sexual abuse—allegations that led to his arrest in 2024 after he shunned several public hearings over the matter. He has since been in jail.
Philippine criminal suspects are required by law to complete their trials and sentences if they were convicted before extradition, but a 1994 extradition treaty between Washington and Manila can smooth the process.
DOJ spokesperson Polo Martin listed the options available to the Philippine government in a statement.
“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 Philippines.”
Risa Hontiveros, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, said Mr Quiboloy must stand trial for his alleged crimes against women and minors.
“It’s about time for Apollo Quiboloy to be extradited to the United States of America,” she said. “He trafficked women and girls from around the world. Justice demands that he answer for these crimes in the very places he committed them.”