Marcos to decide on Quiboloy extradition request in a ‘couple of weeks’
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will decide within the next few weeks whether to grant the US government’s request to extradite alleged sex offender and sect leader Apollo Quiboloy.
Palace press officer Claire Castro said Monday that the extradition request has already reached the President, “and he said this really needs to be studied carefully.”
“But in a couple of weeks, they will make an announcement on what the decision will be,” she added.
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According to Castro, the Philippines’ extradition treaty with the United States provides options for handling Quiboloy’s case.
One option is for the government to defer the extradition request, with Quiboloy remaining in the Philippines until the conclusion of his cases.
Another is to temporarily suspend or put on hold the Philippine case and allow his extradition to the United States.
READ: DOJ to study US request for Quiboloy extradition
“All of this has to go through the proper process because we have laws governing it,” she said.
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Quiboloy is charged with qualified human trafficking in the Pasig Regional Trial Court (RTC), and a separate case of sexual abuse and maltreatment in the Quezon City RTC.
Quiboloy is a self-proclaimed “appointed son of God” and founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC), and also an ally and spiritual adviser of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
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Quiboloy went into hiding and was arrested in Davao City in September 2024. He pleaded not guilty shortly after his arrest, and has been held in the Pasig City jail ever since.
READ: US requests Quiboloy extradition on sex raps
The US extradition request stems from his 2021 indictment in California on charges that include sex trafficking of minors, visa fraud and bulk cash smuggling.
He also had been on the “most wanted” list of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez earlier said the US government wants the Filipino televangelist to be extradited as soon as possible. /dl /atm