US formally requests extradition of PH televangelist Apollo Quiboloy


MANILA — The United States has formally requested the extradition of Philippine televangelist Apollo Quiboloy, the self-proclaimed "Appointed Son of God" and founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) church.



The extradition request is for Quiboloy to face trial on sex trafficking and financial crime charges, Philippine officials said on Thursday (August 6, 2026).

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed receiving the formal request from the U.S. State Department and stated that it has been transmitted to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for evaluation.

Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez noted that American authorities are seeking the prompt extradition of the high-profile televangelist, who is listed on the FBI’s "Most Wanted" list following a 2021 federal indictment in California. 

The charges against him include sex trafficking of minors, fraud, and bulk cash smuggling. Federal prosecutors allege that Quiboloy operated a sex-trafficking ring that coerced young followers using threats of physical abuse and "eternal damnation."

Quiboloy, a longtime ally of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte with a massive religious following, has consistently denied all wrongdoing.

The request triggers a structured judicial process under the 1994 Extradition Treaty between the United States and the Philippines. Extradition is not immediate; the DOJ must first review the U.S. petition before filing a case in a local court, which will determine whether to grant the order.

Because Quiboloy is currently in custody in the Philippines following his September 2024 arrest at his 30-hectare Davao compound—where he faces separate domestic charges including child abuse and human trafficking—the government must decide how to sequence the trials. 

Under Article 11 of the RP-US Extradition Treaty, Philippine authorities may either defer his extradition until local proceedings conclude or opt for a "temporary surrender," allowing him to stand trial in the U.S. before being returned to the Philippines to complete his local legal process.

Justice Department spokesperson Polo Martinez clarified that while official details on the U.S. filing are being reviewed, the decision on whether to hand Quiboloy over immediately or wait for local cases to finish rests with the DOJ and local courts. 

The legal counsel for Quiboloy declined to comment, citing that they have not yet received a formal notice regarding the extradition request.

Meanwhile, the development was welcomed by Senator Risa Hontiveros, chair of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality, who led legislative inquiries into alleged abuses within the KOJC. 

Hontiveros urged the DOJ to act swiftly on the request to ensure justice for victims who testified about systemic abuse.

"His continued presence in this country still emboldens his followers to harass the very survivors who found the courage to speak against him," Hontiveros said in a statement.

 "Justice demands that he answer for these crimes in the very places he committed them."

-Paraluman News with reports from the Philippine News Agency and Reuters/Nestor Corrales and Karen Lema; Editing by Alison Williams