Ranking congressmen celebrated on Thursday night, Aug. 6 a development that brought the Apollo Quiboloy's potential extradition to the United States (US) one step closer to reality.

Senior Minority Leader Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima and Deputy Minority Leader Akbayan Party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña welcomed on X the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs' (DFA) confirmation that it has received the US government's request for the extradition of detained religious leader.

More importantly, the DFA said it had endorsed the matter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Manila.

"This has been a long time coming. We hope that Apollo Quiboloy’s extradition to the US proceeds without delay," De Lima said.

"We understand that the DOJ has already anticipated this, and we hope it will act swiftly to assess the request and immediately seek the President’s clearance, which is just a matter of procedure," she said.

De Lima said the Philippine government must not dilly-dally on the request.

"Pinakahihintay ito hindi lang ng mga biktima nya dito sa Pilipinas, kundi pati ng marami pang biktima ng kanyang mga karumal-dumal na krimen — lalo na ang mga bata at kababaihan — sa ibang bansa," she said.

(This is long awaited not only by his victims here in the Philippines, but also by many more victims of his heinous crimes—especially children and women—in other countries.)

The former senator went on to warn Filipinos that Quiboloy--the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) church founder and the self-proclaimed “Appointed Son of God”--still wields enough influence to "continue to spread fear" in the country.

Cendaña agrees with De Lima that time is of the essence.

"Dapat madaliin ang proseso ng kanyang extradition at pag-bayaran na niya ang kanyang mga krimen. Yun lang ang tanging magbibigay ng katarungan at katahimikan sa kanyang mga biktima," he said.

(The process of his extradition must be expedited so he can finally pay for his crimes. That alone will bring justice and peace to his victims.)

He stressed: "Panahon na para makamit ang katarungan ng mga biktimang babae at mga bata. Karumal-dumal ang kahayupang ginawa ni Apollo Quiboloy."

(It is time to achieve justice for the victims who are women and children. The brutality committed by Apollo Quiboloy is heinous.)

"We saw and heard the testimonies during the Senate investigation regarding his crimes. His immense political influence and access to resources continues to be a threat to the lives of his victims even while he is detained in a Philippine prison," Cendaña further said.

Quiboloy, 76, 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.