US extradition request for preacher Quiboloy faces delays in Philippine legal process

The United States government wants doomsday preacher Apollo Quiboloy figuratively and literally. Figuratively, because the US is asking for his extradition or transfer to the US government’s custody since August 2025; and literally, because he’s been at the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s most wanted list since 2021 after he was charged in the US for sexual trafficking. Quiboloy, an ally and acknowledged adviser of now-detained former president Rodrigo Duterte, is also the subject of a trafficking case before the Pasig City court. He has separate cases of sexual abuse of a minor and child in Quezon City. Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez said last year that the extradition request was filed in June 2025 and had been sent to the Department of Justice (DOJ). A year later, however, it appears that there had been delays in this process — a year-long delay, that is. “As of this time, the DOJ has not officially received any document indicating that the United States has formally requested the extradition of Apollo Quiboloy,” DOJ spokesperson Raphael Martinez told reporters on Thursday afternoon, August 6. “Under the Philippine–US Extradition Treaty and applicable law, the DFA would be the first point of contact for such a request. Initial inquiries may therefore be directed to the DFA,” he added. But Romualdez maintained – the request is already with the DOJ. “The formal request has been transmitted to the [Department] of Justice,” the ambassador told Rappler when asked about the request’s status. Finally — but only on Thursday night — the DFA confirmed that it has received the US’ request to extradite Quiboloy. “The DFA has endorsed the request to the Department of Justice,” said the DFA. Regardless, after that long document relay — if we may call it that — the ball is in President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s court. What would be the process? Frankly speaking, there were complications to this request. For one, Marcos, at least in 2024, believed that Quiboloy had to face his local cases first before any talks on his US extradition could be entertained. He said then that this was not a priority. “In general, a person cannot be extradited from the Philippines while a criminal case against him is still pending in our courts, since local jurisdiction takes priority. The rule is that he must first face trial and, if convicted, serve his sentence here before extradition may proceed,” then-DOJ spokesperson, assistant secretary Mico Clavano, said in 2025. “However, courts retain the power to act on cases with urgency, so if circumstances warrant, we may move to resolve proceedings in order not to unduly delay a valid extradition request,” he added. Marcos’ approval is needed because the DOJ, which is under the executive branch of government, is the key to the extradition process. Under the Supreme Court (SC)-approved extradition process, the extradition process may be initiated by the DOJ secretary or any authorized state counsel. They will file a petition with the extradition court, which will handle the case. “Once extradition is granted, jurisdiction over the extraditee shall be turned over to the Requesting State…. All costs of the extradition proceedings will be paid by the Requesting State,unless stated otherwise in the treaty,” the SC rules state.