President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is seeking a careful review of the United States’ request to extradite Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, with a decision expected within the next few weeks, Malacañang said Monday.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Marcos himself indicated that the matter requires thorough study before he publicly announces his position. Castro declined to disclose whether the Chief Executive is inclined to approve or deny the request.
“Hindi ko masasabi, kasi sabi ng Pangulo, in a couple of weeks saka niya sasabihin kung ano iyong puwede niyang instance patungkol dito,” Castro said during a Malacañang briefing.
“Lahat naman ito ay dapat na dumaan sa proseso dahil may batas naman po tayo. At magde-decide po sila, ibibigay niya po kung ano iyong dapat na gawin patungkol dito,” she added.
The US Department of State formally transmitted the extradition request following Quiboloy’s 2021 indictment in California for sex trafficking of minors, fraud, and bulk cash smuggling. The Department of Foreign Affairs received the request on Thursday and subsequently turned it over to the Department of Justice under the 1994 US-Philippines Extradition Treaty.
Quiboloy also faces separate criminal charges in the Philippines, including qualified human trafficking and child abuse before the Pasig and Quezon City regional trial courts.
Castro outlined two potential legal avenues: allowing Quiboloy to stand trial in the Philippines first before surrendering him to US authorities or temporarily suspending domestic proceedings to extradite him to the US to face trial before returning him to the Philippines.