The United States has formally requested that the Philippines extradite Apollo Quiboloy, a Philippine religious leader on the FBI's most-wanted list, to face trial on charges of child sex trafficking and fraud.
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila said it received the extradition request from the US government on Thursday and forwarded it to the country's Department of Justice.
According to two anonymous officials, the request requires approval from two Philippine courts, which are currently hearing cases against Quiboloy involving human trafficking and child abuse.
Quiboloy, 76, was arrested in 2024 on charges of child sexual abuse and human trafficking. The Philippine Senate also ordered his arrest for refusing to attend public hearings on these allegations. He has been detained since then.
The preacher denies all accusations, claiming they were fabricated by critics and former followers who were expelled from his sect.
Under Philippine rules, criminal suspects must complete trial proceedings and serve any sentence if convicted before being extradited. However, under the 1994 extradition treaty between Washington and Manila, Philippine judicial officials may ask local courts to allow the temporary transfer of suspects to foreign courts for trial before domestic cases are resolved.
Quiboloy leads the Kingdom of Jesus Christ sect, founded in 1985 in Davao City, southern Philippines, and claims a large following both domestically and abroad, including in the United States.
Calling himself the "appointed son of God" and "owner of the universe," he has made numerous controversial statements that many followers regard as miraculous. He once claimed to have prevented a major earthquake in the southern Philippines in 2019.
Quiboloy was a highly influential religious leader in the Philippines, considered a kingmaker in political matters. He served as a spiritual adviser to former President Rodrigo Duterte. Duterte was arrested in Manila last year on a warrant from the International Criminal Court and is currently detained in the Netherlands to face charges of crimes against humanity.
In 2021, US federal prosecutors unsealed an indictment against Quiboloy, accusing him of engaging in sexual conduct with women and minors who were threatened with abuse and "eternal damnation" if they refused.
Quiboloy is also accused of recruiting female sect members as personal assistants, known as "pastorals," to serve him. They were required to prepare meals, clean his homes, give massages, and engage in sexual acts on demand, referred to as "night duty."
Quiboloy was one of nine people named in a superseding indictment by a US federal grand jury in November 2021, facing charges including conspiracy, child sex trafficking, sex trafficking by force, fraud, marriage fraud, money laundering, cash smuggling, and visa fraud.
