The Department of Justice (DOJ) clarified that detained religious leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy is not automatically considered guilty after the government formally filed an Apollo Quiboloy extradition petition before a Philippine court in response to a request from the United States.
The DOJ emphasized that extradition proceedings are separate from any determination of criminal liability and do not decide whether an individual is guilty or innocent.
According to the agency, an extradition case is a sui generis proceeding, meaning it is a unique legal process and not a criminal trial.
The DOJ said the issue of guilt or innocence will only be decided by the court of the country where the respondent may eventually be extradited and prosecuted.
The extradition petition was formally filed on November 9 before the Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 145, presided over by Judge Karen Matti Sy.
The petition seeks the extradition of Quiboloy, along with co-respondents Teresita Dandan and Helen Panilag, following a request from the United States government.
US authorities are seeking to prosecute the respondents for alleged international human trafficking, sex trafficking, conspiracy, and bulk cash smuggling.
The DOJ noted that arrest warrants issued by US courts against the respondents remain valid and enforceable.
Under the country’s extradition rules, the court is tasked with determining whether the legal requirements for extradition have been met, rather than ruling on the substance of the criminal allegations.
Earlier, Chief State Counsel Dennis Chan also stated that the pastor should not be subjected to the most severe penalties if extradition is eventually approved, as Philippine law and existing treaty obligations govern the surrender process.
The DOJ’s filing marks the formal start of the Philippine judicial phase of the US extradition request against Quiboloy, who has been on the US Federal Bureau of Investigation’s most wanted list since 2022.
Court records cited by the DOJ show that the extradition case was raffled to Makati RTC Branch 145 after being filed on November 9.
Legal experts note that extradition proceedings are intended to determine whether treaty and legal requirements are satisfied and are not equivalent to criminal trials.
Quiboloy continues to face separate cases in Philippine courts, including human trafficking and child abuse-related charges, while the US government seeks his surrender for prosecution overseas.