The Department of Justice (DOJ) insisted on Thursday, Aug. 21, that it has not received any formal extradition request from the United States government concerning Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder Apollo C. Quiboloy.
“The regular process would entail the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) receiving the extradition request first before it is officially endorsed to the DOJ,” explained DOJ Spokesperson and Assistant Secretary Jose Dominic Clavano IV.
In a message to journalists covering the DOJ, Clavano said: “In this case, DFA has not received any request. The DOJ could not have officially received the request as well. Verily, no extradition request on this has yet been transmitted to the DOJ.”
Clavano’s statement was issued after Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez said on Wednesday, Aug. 20, that the extradition request “was sent to the DOJ.”
Quiboloy’s lawyer Israelito Torreon, on the other hand, had said that they have not yet received any official documents on the extradition request.
Also, through Clavano, the DOJ had earlier said that Quiboloy cannot be extradited yet because he has pending criminal cases before Philippine courts.
He is facing charges of qualified human trafficking, which is a non-bailable case, as well as child abuse.
He was arrested in Davao City in September 2024 and then transferred to Pasig City Jail last November.
Meanwhile, the US Department of Justice has indicted Quiboloy on multiple charges, including sex trafficking of children, fraud and coercion, and bulk cash smuggling. He was placed on the FB’s most wanted list in 2021.
Despite Romualdez’s assertion that the extradition documents are already with the justice department, the DFA issued a statement deferring to the DOJ for further action.
Romualdez also clarified that the Philippine government has not yet responded to the US request through diplomatic channels, as required under the existing extradition treaty between the two countries. (Czarina Ong Ki, Raymund Antonio)
