The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has yet to receive a formal extradition request from the United States for Apollo Quiboloy, the agency’s top diplomat said.
“So far, the DFA has not received a formal extradition request from the United States,” DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo told the Senate Committee on Women and Children which continued its hearing on the sexual abuse, rape and other crimes committed by the televangelist and founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) sect.
Quiboloy is facing child abuse and human trafficking charges in the Philippines. He is also facing sex trafficking and cash smuggling charges in the US and is wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) since 2021.
Quiboloy faced senators for the first time during the public hearing of the Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality today, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024.
This after the Pasig City Regional Trial Court granted the request of the panel’s chairperson Sen. Risa Hontiveros to allow Quiboloy and his five-co-accused to attend the Senate hearing.
During the hearing, Manalo said the DFA will first examine the document should the government receive a request from the US to check whether it is in accordance with the procedure. Afterwards, the DFA will forward it to the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Also, Manalo said no foreign service posts in the US has received any request or assistance from individuals who may be victims of human trafficking in relation to Quiboloy’s case.
Earlier, Undersecretary Nicholas Ty said Justice Secretary Crispin Remulla is aware that an official request from the US is on its way.
According to Ty, the extradition request from the US would first be sent to the DFA before forwarded to the DOJ.
Quiboloy, who regards former president Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Sara Duterte as his allies, had repeatedly condemned the Senate’s inquiry into the alleged human trafficking and sexual abuses committed by his religious sect.
He also condemned authorities’ attempts to arrest him until he reportedly “surrendered” to military intelligence agents.