DOJ insists: No formal US extradition request yet for Quiboloy
The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday morning, Aug. 21, insisted that it has not received any request from the United States government on the extradition of 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.
On the other hand, the US Department of Justice has charged Quiboloy with sex trafficking of children, fraud and coercion, and bulk cash smuggling.