No request yet to extradite Quiboloy to US — Guevarra

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has yet to receive an extradition request from the United States government for Apollo Quiboloy, the founder of a Philippines-based church who is facing sex trafficking charges.

“As of this date, the DOJ has not received any request for extradition from the US Department of Justice nor from the US State Department through the Department of Foreign Affairs,” Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said in a message to reporters on Friday.

Quiboloy, founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, and other church officials have been charged with running a sex trafficking operation that threatened victims as young as 12 with "eternal damnation" and physical abuse.

The televangelist’s camp dismissed the charges as “another vicious attempt to bring down” Quiboloy.

“We are confident and ready to face whatever is hurled against Pastor Quiboloy and the Kingdom leaders. We trust the process of justice and we certainly expect the truth to prevail and the Kingdom ministry will continue to prosper,” it said.  

Guevarra said that charges of child abuse, ill-treatment under the Revised Penal Code, trafficking in persons through forced labor, and trafficking in persons through sexual abuse were previously filed against Quiboloy in Davao City.

The complaints, however, were dismissed. 

“A complaint for rape, however, was filed against him last year in Davao City, but the same was dismissed. That dismissal is now on appeal with the DOJ,” Guevarra said.

Quiboloy is a friend and spiritual adviser of President Rodrigo Duterte. — VBL, GMA News