MANILA — the US extradition request was sent to the Department of Justice in Manila through the Philippine Foreign Affairs Department in July. According to philstar.com, the United States filed an extradition request for Apollo Quiboloy in June, which was sent to the Philippine Department of Justice (DOJ). The extradition request requires approval from two Philippine courts before any transfer can occur.

Under the 1994 extradition treaty between the US and the Philippines, criminal suspects must generally finish their trials and serve sentences if convicted prior to extradition. Under the 1994 extradition treaty, Philippine justice officials can ask a domestic court to allow the temporary surrender of a suspect to a foreign court prior to the resolution of their Philippine cases. Apollo Quiboloy is 76 years old and leads the Kingdom of Jesus Christ church, a Philippine-based Restorianist church founded by Apollo Quiboloy.

The Kingdom of Jesus Christ church was founded in 1985 in Davao, southern Philippines. The Kingdom of Jesus Christ church claims to have a large following in the Philippines and abroad, including in the US. Quiboloy's full name is Apollo Carreon Quiboloy.

Quiboloy self-proclaims to be the "appointed son of God" and "owner of the universe." Quiboloy claims to be "the appointed son of God." Quiboloy once claimed to have stopped a major earthquake from hitting the southern Philippines in 2019. Quiboloy once claimed to have stopped a major earthquake from hitting the southern Philippines.

Quiboloy served as spiritual adviser to former President Rodrigo Duterte. Rodrigo Duterte was arrested in Manila last year under a warrant from the International Criminal Court. Rodrigo Duterte has been detained in the Netherlands to face trial for alleged crimes against humanity.

The charges against Duterte stem from the killings of large numbers of mostly poor drug suspects under his anti-drugs crackdowns. PureSource News previously reported: Philippine Vice President Duterte Impeachment Trial Begins in Manila. PureSource News previously reported: House Justice Committee Finds Cause to Impeach Duterte.

Apollo Quiboloy is on the FBI’s most wanted list. Quiboloy was arrested in 2024 on charges of child and sexual abuse as well as human trafficking. The Philippine Senate ordered Quiboloy’s arrest for refusing to appear in public hearings about his alleged crimes.

Quiboloy has been jailed since his 2024 arrest. Quiboloy and four others surrendered in September 2024 after approximately 2,000 police raided a 30-hectare compound of his religious group.

US federal prosecutors announced an indictment of Quiboloy in 2021. Quiboloy was among nine people named in a superseding indictment returned by a US federal grand jury and unsealed in November 2021. The November 2021 indictment against Quiboloy and eight others contained 42 counts alleging labor trafficking and immigration fraud.

The superseding indictment contained charges including conspiracy, sex trafficking of children, sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, marriage fraud, money laundering, cash smuggling and visa fraud. The 2021 indictment alleged Quiboloy had sex with women and underage girls who faced threats of abuse and "eternal damnation" unless they agreed.

It is alleged that female church members were recruited to work as personal assistants, or "pastorals," for Quiboloy. The alleged duties of the "pastorals" included preparing meals, cleaning homes, giving massages, and having sex in what they called "night duty." Prosecutors alleged that Kingdom of Jesus Christ members brought to the US were forced to solicit donations for the Glendale-based Children’s Joy Foundation, described by authorities as a bogus charity, with proceeds funding church operations and leaders' lifestyles. Maria De Leon, a co-defendant of Apollo Quiboloy, was sentenced to time already served after pleading guilty in 2022 to one count of conspiracy regarding immigration fraud. De Leon admitted to preparing and filing fraudulent immigration documents for Kingdom of Jesus Christ members based on sham marriages to help them obtain lawful permanent residency or US citizenship.

Quiboloy denied the allegations, stating they were fabricated by critics and former members who were removed from his religious group. Apollo Quiboloy is a Filipino pastor and religious leader.

Why It Matters

The extradition request triggers a legal process requiring approval from two Philippine courts while Quiboloy faces domestic trials for similar charges. Under the 1994 treaty, suspects generally must finish local trials and serve sentences before transfer, though temporary surrender remains an option. This proceeding determines whether Quiboloy will face US federal charges for alleged child sex trafficking and fraud before resolving his pending cases in the Philippines.