Citing "insufficiencies and ambiguities" in the extradition process, the House Committee on Justice has decided to carry out a motu proprio inquiry on the United States' (US) extradition request for the controversial pastor Apollo Quiboloy.

This development resulted from discussions held by Batangas 2nd district Rep. Gerville "Jinky Bitrics" Luistro-led committee during its organizational meeting Tuesday, Aug. 26.

Before this, Akabayan Party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña wrote a letter to the justice panel to request an inquiry in aid of legislation on Quiboloy's case.

"There is an overwhelming public interest and concern over the process by which extradition requests are received, evaluated, and acted upon. It is imperative that Congress, through your Committee, provide a forum where concerned agencies may clarify the status of the present request, expiain the legal and procedural steps involved, and identify any gaps or ambiguities in our existing laws and treaties," Cendaña stated in his letter, which was read out by Luistro.

She says the two significant laws on the matter that must be taken up are the 1994 extradition treaty between the US and Philippines, and Presidential Decree (PD) 1069 or the Philippine Extradition Law enacted by the late president Ferdinand Marcos Sr. in 1977.

According to her, the two laws are "silent" to some pertinent details. "There are questions which answers could not be found in both law."

Committee vice chairman, Bukidnon 2nd district Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores made the formal motion to carry out the probe.

"I move that the Committee on Justice conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation in accordance not only with the request of Congressman Cendaña but also to cover PD 1069 and all other related laws on extradition," he said.

Luistro carried the motion after hearing no objection from the committee members.

"The following arguments or issue with respect to the existing laws on extradition in the Philippines were raised: one, whether an extradition process may be initiated by a foreign country when the extraditee has pending cases as well in the Philippines; second, what is the timeline between the request by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) [and] the transmittal the Department of Justice (DOJ), in the same manner, what is the timeline between the receipt by the DOJ [and] the filing of the petition for extradition with the proper regional trial court," she said.

"Number three, it was also raised which court shall acquire jurisdiction over the request for extradition...whether the court which has jurisdiction over the local cases or the court where the extraditee is a resident of as mentioned in the treaty or PD 1069," she added.

During the discussions, Flores also pointed out that the existing laws do not say who will exercise authority to chose between temporary surrender and deferred surrender of the extraditee--something Luistro acknowledged.

"We understand that in the treaty, and even in PD 1069 it was made clear that it will be the [DOJ] through the chief state counsel who will be filing the petition for extradition. However, once the same is granted...the question now is, who will exercise the authority to chose whether it will be temporary surrender or deferred surrender?" she said.

Lusitro said that Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) church founder Quiboloy's involvement in the probe was merely incidental.

“This is not about prejudging anyone’s guilt. It is about upholding the rule of law, honoring our treaty commitments, and ensuring that victims see swift, fair, and transparent action,” Luistro later stressed in an interview.

“Our message is simple: no one is above the law. We will ask the DOJ and DFA to walk the public through the precise legal options—temporary or deferred surrender—and the concrete timeline so justice is neither delayed nor denied,” she said.

The Batangas solon concluded by affirming that the House, through the justice committee, will work to strengthen the country’s extradition framework, ensure accountability, and reinforce the administration’s commitment to international cooperation against serious crimes, while respecting the independence of the courts.

Televangelist Quiboloy--the self-proclaimed "Appointed Son of God"--has been indicted in the US for sex trafficking, with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) placing him on its wanted list. Meanwhile, local cases against him include qualified trafficking and child abuse.