DOJ weighing merits of Quiboloy extradition

MANILA, Philippines — “Everything will be weighed” as the Department of Justice (DOJ) studies the United States government’s request to extradite detained Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Apollo Quiboloy.

Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida confirmed that the DOJ has received the “formal transmittal from the Department of Foreign Affairs.”

“We look at the whole habitat of the Philippine legal system in evaluating this. Not only the existing treaty, not only the particular rules relevant to the case and also decided cases of the Supreme Court, which will always guide all actions of the Philippine government. So everything will be weighed,” Vida said on the sidelines of the Manila Overseas Press Club Judiciary Night on Friday.

According to earlier reports, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez disclosed that the US government sent its extradition request to the Philippine counterpart in July, with the goal of making Quiboloy face charges issued by a federal grand jury in the US District Court for the Central District of California in November 2021.

Some of the charges were conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion and sex trafficking of children; sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion; conspiracy and bulk cash smuggling.

However, Quiboloy is also facing cases for qualified human trafficking and child sexual abuses before regional trial courts in Pasig City and Quezon City.

His lawyer Ferdinand Topacio earlier argued that plans to bring Quiboloy to the US court would be “extremely unfeasible” as principles recognized by the international community dictate that the person facing prosecution before a local court should complete the proceedings before being surrendered to another jurisdiction.

When asked for his comment, Vida said “that’s the opinion of Atty. Topacio and as a fellow member of the Bar we will hear him out.”

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