The United States has submitted a formal extradition request for Apollo Carreon Quiboloy, the leader of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ church, according to announcements from Philippine government officials. The request was transmitted in July and has been received by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, which forwarded it to the Department of Justice. Quiboloy faces multiple charges in the U.S. including child sex trafficking, fraud, money laundering, and visa fraud.
The 76-year-old religious leader founded the Kingdom of Jesus Christ in Davao city in 1985, and the organization claims to maintain a substantial membership both within the Philippines and internationally. Quiboloy previously served as a spiritual adviser to former President Rodrigo Duterte, positioning himself as an influential religious figure and political adviser during that period. He has made various public statements about his spiritual status and claims, which have drawn both devoted followers and scrutiny.
Quiboloy has been in custody since September 2024, following his surrender after a large-scale police operation at his religious compound. Philippine courts have been conducting trials against him on charges related to human trafficking and child abuse. Under Philippine law and the 1994 extradition treaty between the Philippines and the United States, any extradition must receive approval from two Philippine courts. Justice officials retain the option to request temporary surrender of a suspect to face foreign charges before domestic cases are concluded.
U.S. federal prosecutors filed charges against Quiboloy in 2021, with a superseding indictment unsealed in November that year that named him among nine defendants. Following the indictment, he was placed on the FBI’s list of most wanted fugitives. Quiboloy has denied all allegations against him, characterizing them as fabrications by critics and former members of his organization.
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