The United States formally asked the Philippines in July to extradite detained church leader Apollo Carreon Quiboloy on federal charges that include child sex trafficking and fraud. The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs received the request and sent it to the country's Department of Justice for review.

Two Philippine courts hearing domestic human-trafficking and child-abuse cases against Quiboloy must approve the extradition request, officials told the Associated Press. Neither court had announced a decision or timetable when the request became public on August 6.

A judge's gavel beside law books on a wooden table (illustrative image)
Extradition requests move through the requested country's legal process before any surrender occurs. Photo by Tingey Injury Law Firm on Unsplash.

The treaty provides two routes while Philippine cases continue

The United States and the Philippines signed their current extradition treaty in Manila on November 13, 1994, and it entered into force on November 22, 1996. The agreement covers people charged with or convicted of an extraditable offense, but a diplomatic request does not itself transfer custody.

Article 11 of the treaty gives the requested country a choice when the person is already being prosecuted or serving a sentence there. It may postpone extradition proceedings until the domestic prosecution ends or a sentence is served, or it may temporarily surrender the person for prosecution abroad after granting extradition.

A temporary surrender would keep Quiboloy in US custody for the American proceedings and require his return to the Philippines afterward under conditions agreed by both governments. The treaty does not say which route Philippine authorities must select in his case.

Quiboloy faces separate allegations in both countries

Quiboloy founded the Philippines-based Kingdom of Jesus Christ church and served as a spiritual adviser to former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. He surrendered in September 2024 after Philippine police searched the church's compound in Davao, and he has remained jailed while facing domestic cases. Quiboloy has denied the allegations, describing them as fabricated by critics and former members.

The US Department of Justice said a federal grand jury named Quiboloy and eight other defendants in a 42-count superseding indictment unsealed in November 2021. Prosecutors allege that church leaders operated sex-trafficking and labor-trafficking schemes and committed offenses including marriage fraud, money laundering, cash smuggling and visa fraud.

The indictment alleges that Quiboloy and two other church administrators recruited girls and young women as personal assistants and coerced them into sex through threats and abuse. An indictment states accusations rather than findings of guilt, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless proved guilty in court.

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation lists Quiboloy as wanted on alleged sex-trafficking conspiracy, child sex trafficking and bulk cash smuggling offenses. The listing is a fugitive notice, not a conviction.

What happens next

Philippine justice officials must assess whether the US submission meets treaty and domestic legal requirements. The courts handling Quiboloy's Philippine cases also have to decide whether to approve the request, according to the officials cited by the Associated Press.

If Philippine authorities grant extradition, they would still need to choose between postponing surrender and arranging a temporary transfer for the US prosecution. No public decision on either route was available at the time of writing, and the diplomatic request itself had not been published.

Frequently asked questions

Has Quiboloy been extradited?
No. He remained in Philippine custody, and the US request was under review when it became public on August 6.

Must the Philippine cases end before a US trial?
Not necessarily. The treaty allows the Philippines to defer the extradition process, but it also permits temporary surrender for prosecution after extradition is granted.

Why do two Philippine courts matter?
They are hearing the domestic cases against Quiboloy. Officials cited by the Associated Press said both courts must approve the US request.