IT WOULD TAKE two weeks at the most for the government to decide whether or not to cave in to the United States government request to extradite religious leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.
According to Palace Press Officer Usec. Claire Castro, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will make the announcement himself.
Quiboloy is facing a string of criminal cases ranging from sex trafficking and racketeering in the US.
“We spoke to the President a while ago and he said that we really need to study this carefully. But in a couple of weeks he will announce what the decision will be,” Castro said in a Palace press briefing.
Under existing treaties with the US, the Philippines has two options regarding the matter.
“Nasa agreement po yan, nasa treaty natin with the US at kasama po ito sa provision. Kaya meron tayong dalawang options—either manatili dito si Pastor Quiboloy habang dinidinig ang kaso dito sa Pilipinas, pero pwede na temporarily i-hold, i-suspend ang kaso at magkaroon ng extradition at maipadala si Pastor Quiboloy sa US,” Castro told reporters.
When pressed as to where Marcos is leaning on between the two options, Castro declined to elaborate.
“Of course, I can’t say, because the President said he will announce his stance on this matter in a couple of weeks,” she said.
“Lahat naman to ay dapat na dumaan sa proseso dahil may batas naman po tayo. Magde-decide po sila. Ibibigay niya po kung ano yung dapat na gawin tungkol dito,” she added.
Quiboloy was arrested in the Philippines 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 is currently detained at the Pasig City Jail, has repeatedly opposed the idea of facing trial in the US.
