House justice panel to probe US extradition request for Quiboloy
MANILA, Philippines — The House justice committee will launch a motu proprio inquiry into the country’s extradition laws, alongside the United States’ request to extradite detained religious leader Apollo Quiboloy.
In a letter dated August 23, Rep. Perci Cendaña (Akbayan Party-list) asked the committee to hold a probe to help “ensure transparency, fairness and adherence” to the country’s international obligations.
The request calls for the participation of concerned agencies to explain the government’s procedure for extraditing Quiboloy to the US, where he was indicted for sex trafficking, grooming minors, conspiracy and immigration fraud.
“It is imperative that Congress, through your Committee, provide a forum where concerned agencies may clarify the status of the present request, explain the legal and procedural steps involved, and identify any gaps or ambiguities in our existing laws and treaties,” the letter read.
During the justice committee's organizational meeting on Tuesday, August 26, Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores (Bukidnon, 2nd District) moved for the panel to conduct the probe. On top of Cendaña's request, he said the inquiry should also cover Presidential Decree 1069 and other laws related to extradition.
Rep. Gerville "Jinky Bitrics" Luistro (Batangas, 2nd District), who chairs the committee, approved the motion and explained that existing extradition laws are still unclear in cases where the extraditee has pending cases in their own country.
She added that the timeline of when the extradition request was made and transmitted to concerned agencies remains vague, as well as any petition filed to a local court.
“Our message is simple: no one is above the law. We will ask the DOJ and DFA to walk the public through the precise legal options — temporary or deferred surrender — and the concrete timeline so justice is neither delayed nor denied,” Luistro said.
Quiboloy also faces criminal cases in the Philippines, including non-bailable qualified human trafficking as well as child and sexual abuse charges.
The Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder was formally charged with his US cases in 2021. He currently remains detained in Pasig City Jail while his local cases are pending trial in Pasig and Quezon City.
Quiboloy was arrested in September 2024 after nearly two weeks of police operations monitoring the KOJC compound in Davao City.
The Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez confirmed on August 20 that Washington had sent extradition documents for Quiboloy to the Department of Justice (DOJ) in June.
Extradition refers to the surrender of a person to another country where they will stand trial or serve punishment for crimes committed in the requesting state.
The request is expected to go through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the DOJ, which will then file a petition before a trial court to determine whether extradition will be granted.
Cendaña believes the extradition process is a matter of “overwhelming public interest and concern” that warrants congressional scrutiny.
Several House lawmakers have also expressed support for Quiboloy’s extradition to the US, saying it is time to end his years of impunity.
They argued that his political and religious influence in the country remains strong despite the charges he faces, and that his temporary surrender is necessary to avoid undermining investigations. — with reports by Cristina Chi
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