Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima believes that detained Pastor Apollo Quiboloy's extradition can still be carried out by Philippine authorities even if his cases here have yet to be resolved.

De Lima had this to say in a radio interview Friday, Aug.22, amid the persisting view that the government can't grant the United States' (US) request for extradition pending the resolution of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) church founder's cases.

"Pwede pa rin i-extradite. Ang general rule is extradition if it falls under the extraditable offenses. At dito naman malinaw, walang issue doon. Nasa option yan ng Pilipinas, being the requested state, to temporarily surrender o i-postpone na yung proceedings," De Lima said.

(The extradition can be granted. The general rule is [to grant] extradition if it falls under the extraditable offenses. In this instance, there's no issue at all. It is within the options of the Philippines, being the requested state, to temporarily surrender or to postpone the proceedings.)

But the former senator and Department of Justice (DOJ) secretary admitted that this scenario was "subject of course to certain conditions to be determined by agreement".

Asked who the agreeing parties are, De Lima said that these were Washington and Manila.

"Sa atin (From our side), the executive through the [DOJ], of course that should be with clearance from the Chief Executive as a matter of principle or as a matter of practice. And the US din, yung State Department. Sila ang mga mag-a-agree, and depende rin yan sa conditions. Maa-assess yan ng DOJ (And also the US, their State Department. They will be the ones to agree, and that will depend on the conditions. The DOJ will assess that)," she explained.

"So yung DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs), kapag natanggap na, first, i-dedetermine nIya kung part ito ng extradition treaty, and then ipapasa sa DOJ for further study, for further evaluation, and then kung magdecide [to extradite], ire-request yung court," De Lima further said.

(So once the DFA receives it, first, it will determine whether it falls under the extradition treaty, and then it will forward it to the DOJ for further study and evaluation. If a decision is made to extradite, it will be requested before the court.)

Quiboloy, the self-proclaimed “Appointed Son of God”, is wanted in the US on charges of sex trafficking, bulk cash smuggling, and immigration fraud. US authorities accuse Quiboloy and his associates of exploiting church members, including minors, in a years-long scheme.

In the Philippines, Quiboloy — spiritual adviser and close friend of former president Rodrigo Duterte — also faces human trafficking and child abuse cases filed by former church members who alleged sexual exploitation and coercion.