Philippine Ambassador to the United States (US) Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez disclosed that US Marshals would likely take custody of Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder Pastor Apollo Quiboloy incase his extradition is approved.

Romualdez said that US Marshalls will personally pick up Quiboloy using their own airplane and will be brought directly to Los Angeles where the crime of human trafficking and sex trafficking were committed.

The US State Department transmitted the request to the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), which then forwarded it to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

According to Romualdez, Philippine courts will determine how the extradition request will proceed, considering Quiboloy is also facing pending criminal cases in the Philippines.

The ambassador described the case as a high-profile international matter because it involves allegations of human trafficking and sex trafficking, which he said are among the world’s top law enforcement priorities.

He said that while the Philippines has international obligations to cooperate in such cases, the government remains responsible for ensuring that any Filipino citizen extradited abroad receives a fair trial.

The 2021 US indictment claims that victims were between the ages of 12 and 25 and recruited as personal assistants for Quiboloy to prepare his meals, clean his residence, and give him massages, aside from engaging in sex.

Quiboloy was arrested after a massive manhunt in September 2024 on charges of violation of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.

He is also facing a non-bailable qualified human trafficking charge under Section 4(a) of Republic Act No. 9208, as amended, before a Pasig court.

Quiboloy, who pleaded not guilty shortly after his August 2024 arrest, is currently detained at the Pasig City Jail.

Earlier, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has received the US government’s request for the extradition of religious leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, who is facing charges of sex trafficking and racketeering in the country.

Quiboloy has been on the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s most wanted list.

In a statement, the DFA spokesperson Analyn Ratonel said that the agency “has received the United States Government’s request for the extradition of Apollo Quiboloy.”

“The DFA has endorsed the request to the Department of Justice,” she added.

US prosecutors in November 2021 announced sex-trafficking charges, alleging that girls and women were coerced to have sex with Quiboloy, the founder of the religious group Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), and other church officials, including two US-based church administrators.

The 2021 US indictment claims that victims were between the ages of 12 and 25 and recruited as personal assistants for Quiboloy to prepare his meals, clean his residence, and give him massages, aside from engaging in sex.

Quiboloy was arrested after a massive manhunt in September 2024 on charges of violation of Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.

He is also facing a non-bailable qualified human trafficking charge under Section 4(a) of Republic Act No. 9208, as amended, before a Pasig court.

Quiboloy, who pleaded not guilty shortly after his August 2024 arrest, is currently detained at the Pasig City Jail.