Philippines Receives US Request to Extradite Influential Pastor Accused of Trafficking

The Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has confirmed the receipt of an extradition request from the United States for influential preacher Apollo Quiboloy. US authorities are seeking his return to face charges including sex trafficking of minors, fraud, and other alleged offenses.

The DFA stated it has forwarded the US request to the Department of Justice for evaluation and further action. Quiboloy, the 76-year-old leader of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ church founded in Davao City in 1985, is already detained in the Philippines. He faces separate legal proceedings there related to human trafficking and sexual abuse of minors.

Quiboloy, once considered one of the most politically influential religious figures in the Philippines, served as a spiritual advisor to former President Rodrigo Duterte. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has listed him among its most wanted individuals. The US Attorney's Office accuses him of sex trafficking of minors, sex trafficking by force, fraud, coercion, immigration fraud, and money laundering, among other crimes.

His arrest in September 2024 followed a large-scale operation involving over 2,000 police officers and hundreds of soldiers in Davao. Supporters of Quiboloy reportedly clashed with law enforcement during the operation, resulting in injuries to over 100 followers and 60 police officers. One individual reportedly died from cardiac issues during the confrontation, according to official accounts.

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The Department of Foreign Affairs confirms that it has received the extradition request from the Government of the United States for Apollo Quiboloy. The DFA has remitted the request to the Department of Justice.