DOJ REVIEWS US EXTRADITIONREQUEST FOR APOLLO QUIBOLOY

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has begun evaluating the formal request of the United States to extradite detained religious leader Apollo Quiboloy, Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida confirmed Saturday, August 8.

The request was formally transmitted by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to the DOJ, which is now reviewing whether the request meets the requirements under the Philippines-US extradition treaty and Philippine law.

Vida said the DOJ will conduct a comprehensive review before making any decision, including fact-checking and validating the information contained in the US request.

“The first step is to evaluate the formal transmittal from the Department of Foreign Affairs. We will fact-check everything and validate it based on the existing extradition treaty we have with the United States,” Vida said.

The justice secretary emphasized that the review will not be based solely on the bilateral extradition treaty. The DOJ will also consider relevant Philippine laws, the Rules of Court, and applicable decisions of the Supreme Court.

Quiboloy’s pending criminal cases in the Philippines will likewise be examined because they could have legal implications for any possible extradition proceedings.

“The existence of ongoing criminal cases against Mr. Quiboloy is another fact that we need to check and cross-reference to determine whether there will be any legal impediment,” Vida said.

Quiboloy, founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, is facing criminal allegations in both the Philippines and the United States. US authorities have formally sought his extradition to face charges that include sex trafficking and other offenses. Quiboloy has denied wrongdoing.

The US request comes while Quiboloy is also facing pending cases before Philippine courts, making the legal review particularly significant. Any extradition process must take into account the applicable Philippine legal procedures and the status of his local cases.

Vida also declined to endorse or reject lawyer Israelito Torreon’s assessment that Quiboloy’s extradition would be “extremely unfeasible” under the existing treaty and Supreme Court rules.

According to Vida, that remains Torreon’s legal opinion, while the DOJ will conduct its own independent assessment.

The justice secretary said the department will prioritize the matter while continuing to handle its other responsibilities.

For now, no final decision has been made on Quiboloy’s extradition. The DOJ said it will announce its action after completing its evaluation of the US request and all relevant legal and factual circumstances.