The saga surrounding Apollo Quiboloy, the embattled Philippine televangelist and self-proclaimed “appointed son of God,” has taken a dramatic new turn as the United States formally seeks his extradition on charges of sex trafficking and bulk cash smuggling. This latest development, confirmed by both Philippine and American officials, comes as Quiboloy faces parallel legal battles in his home country, raising questions about international law, religious power, and the intersection of politics and justice.
On August 21, 2025, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez confirmed that the US government filed an official extradition request for Quiboloy back in June. According to Rappler, Romualdez stated, “Documents pertaining to the extradition request [were] sent to the DOJ.” He added that the process was ongoing, with Philippine authorities actively following up on the paperwork. The request marks a significant escalation in the cross-border pursuit of Quiboloy, who has long been a controversial figure both in the Philippines and abroad.
Quiboloy, detained at the Pasig City Jail since September 2024, is currently facing multiple charges in Philippine courts. These include human trafficking and sexual abuse, both of which carry heavy penalties under local law. His arrest last year followed a tense, two-week standoff at his sprawling Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) compound in Davao City, a scene that saw police and supporters locked in a dramatic impasse. When authorities finally moved in, Quiboloy was taken into custody, ending a period of high-profile defiance in which he insisted he would not surrender without assurances that the United States would not interfere in his domestic legal proceedings.
The legal complications do not end in the Philippines. In the United States, Quiboloy faces an indictment from a federal grand jury in the US District Court for the Central District of California. According to Philippine Daily Inquirer, the charges include conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion, sex trafficking of children, and bulk cash smuggling. The indictment alleges that Quiboloy and his associates orchestrated a labor trafficking scheme that brought KOJC members to the US on fraudulently obtained visas. Once there, members were allegedly forced to solicit donations for a charity that, in reality, funded the church’s operations and the lavish lifestyles of its leaders.
The FBI claims that those who succeeded in raising funds were pressured to enter into sham marriages or acquire fraudulent student visas, allowing them to continue fundraising in the US year-round. Female church members, the indictment alleges, were recruited as “pastorals” – a euphemism for personal assistants who prepared Quiboloy’s meals, cleaned his residences, gave him massages, and, most disturbingly, were required to perform “night duty,” which involved sexual acts with the pastor. These accusations, if proven, would constitute severe violations of US and international law.
Quiboloy has consistently denied all charges, both in the Philippines and the United States. In a recorded statement on his Sonshine Media Network International YouTube channel, he insisted he was not guilty but was “preserving” himself from US authorities, whom he accused of plotting to kidnap or assassinate him through “extraordinary rendition.” The televangelist’s claims have done little to sway authorities, however. On July 20, 2025, the Pasig Regional Trial Court denied his petition for bail in the qualified trafficking cases, citing his central role as the “central figure of authority” who allegedly sexually exploited a KOJC member who was a minor. The court’s 23-page order also denied bail for his co-accused, reinforcing the seriousness of the charges and the perceived risk of flight or interference with witnesses.
Despite the US extradition request, Philippine legal procedures must take precedence. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla emphasized that, under Philippine law, extradition cannot proceed while there are pending criminal cases against Quiboloy in local courts. “The rule is that he must first face trial and, if convicted, serve his sentence here before extradition may proceed,” Remulla told Philippine Daily Inquirer. DOJ spokesperson Dominic Clavano IV echoed this, clarifying that local jurisdiction is the priority. However, Clavano also noted that courts have the power to act with urgency if circumstances warrant, suggesting that delays in the process could be minimized if necessary to accommodate a valid extradition request.
The political undertones of the case are impossible to ignore. Quiboloy’s influence extends well beyond the pulpit. As founder of the KOJC, he claims a following of seven million and has leveraged his religious standing for political power. He served as a close adviser to former President Rodrigo Duterte, whose own legal troubles have made headlines. Duterte, now facing charges of crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court in The Hague over his administration’s deadly crackdown on drug suspects, has publicly called for temporary freedom from the ICC, as reported by Rappler. The intertwining of Quiboloy’s and Duterte’s fates has led some observers to speculate about the broader implications for Philippine politics and the rule of law.
Meanwhile, the extradition process itself is fraught with both legal and diplomatic complexities. The US warrant for Quiboloy’s arrest was originally issued on November 10, 2021, but remained sealed until March 1, 2024, when Judge Terry Hatter Jr. ordered its contents made public. The unsealing of the warrant brought renewed attention to the allegations and increased pressure on Philippine authorities to cooperate with US law enforcement. The current status, as confirmed by Ambassador Romualdez, is that the extradition documents are being reviewed and followed up by the Department of Justice. However, as of now, the Department of Foreign Affairs has not received a formal request for extradition, highlighting the sometimes slow and cautious nature of international legal cooperation.
In the midst of these high-profile legal battles, Quiboloy’s supporters remain vocal, insisting on his innocence and decrying what they see as foreign interference in Philippine affairs. His detractors, meanwhile, argue that the charges represent a long-overdue reckoning for a man whose power and influence have shielded him from accountability for years. The case has become a flashpoint for debates about sovereignty, religious authority, and the capacity of the justice system to hold the powerful to account.
As the extradition request winds its way through the Philippine legal and diplomatic machinery, the world watches closely. The outcome could set important precedents for how the Philippines handles international extradition requests, especially in cases involving prominent figures. For now, Quiboloy remains behind bars in Pasig City Jail, awaiting trial on charges that have rocked both his church and the nation. Whatever the final verdict, the case of Apollo Quiboloy stands as a stark reminder of the complex ties between faith, power, and justice in the modern world.
