THE Department of Justice (DOJ) has assured that religious leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy will not face the death penalty if he is convicted in the United States.
The DOJ made the commitment as it began to review the extradition documents.
Chief State Counsel Dennis Arvin Chan said protecting Quiboloy from the death penalty is a key consideration in the proceedings.
The US is seeking Quiboloy’s extradition on multiple charges, including conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking, sex trafficking of children and bulk cash smuggling.
The founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ is also indicted in several cases in the Philippines. He faces non-bailable qualified human trafficking charges before the Pasig City Regional Trial Court, alongside child abuse and sexual abuse cases originally filed in Davao City that are being heard in a Quezon City court.
Chan remains optimistic about securing a favorable court ruling on the extradition petition, provided all requirements under the Philippine-US Extradition Treaty are strictly met.
“So long as the requirements under the RP-US extradition treaty are met through the documents we will be filing, we are confident that extradition will be granted,” he said.
Central to the process is Article 7 of the treaty, which outlines the mandatory documents and information accompanying an extradition request.
The records include proof of the subject’s identity, the facts and circumstances of the case, the legal provisions defining the alleged offenses, the corresponding penalties and details regarding the prescription of prosecution or punishment.
Chan said the final decision rests with the judiciary, not the executive branch. “The court where the petition will be filed will have to determine whether the petition we submitted and the supporting documents are compliant with the extradition treaty,” he said.
He added that if compliance is established and all other elements are met, the DOJ sees no reason for the request to be denied.
“However, it is not yet final. It can still be appealed,” he said.
Quiboloy has denied the accusations, maintaining that they are politically motivated.
Chan underscored the broader implications of the case, warning that failure to extradite Quiboloy could damage the country’s credibility as a treaty partner.
“The extradition treaty is a formal agreement between the Philippines and the United States. It will not look good on us if we do not follow the terms and provisions of the extradition treaty,” he said.
Chan made it clear that the treaty does not guarantee automatic extradition, and that the DOJ remains committed to upholding both the rule of law and the Philippines’ international obligations.
