MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) has formally received the United States’ extradition request for Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy and two other respondents, Chief State Counsel Dennis Chan said on Thursday.
Chan said the DOJ is now reviewing the request and its supporting documents for compliance with the Philippine-US Extradition Treaty and Philippine extradition law.
In a related development, the Supreme Court (SC) En Banc approved the Rules on Extradition Proceedings in a resolution dated April 8, 2025, laying down a uniform framework for extradition cases, including applications for arrest warrants, hold departure orders and bail.
The Rules, which took effect on Nov. 10, 2025, apply to all pending extradition proceedings.
The documents, transmitted through the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), are voluminous, with each respondent covered by about six batches of supporting documents, Chan said.
“We have to go through each of that,” he said, adding that the DOJ is moving as quickly as possible without compromising the legal review.
Chan declined to give a fixed timetable but said the department understands the public interest in the case and will seek to expedite its action.
“We are hoping that once filed, it will not take years. Siguro mga buwan lang ang tinitingnan natin dito,” Chan said.
The DOJ must first determine whether several key requirements are met before filing an extradition petition.
These include confirming that the person sought by the US is the same person in Philippine custody, that the alleged offenses satisfy the principle of dual criminality, and that the offenses carry the required penalties under Philippine extradition rules.
Dual criminality means the underlying acts must constitute crimes in both countries, although the offenses need not have the same name or identical legal elements.
The DOJ must also determine that the offenses have not prescribed under US law and that Quiboloy and the other respondents would not face the death penalty if convicted.
If the requirements are met, Chan said, the DOJ may file the extradition petition before a Regional Trial Court (RTC).
