Philippine Court Orders Arrest of Jailed Celebrity Preacher Apollo Quiboloy

A regional court in the Philippines has ordered the arrest of celebrity preacher Apollo Quiboloy, who is currently in custody, as part of legal proceedings regarding his potential extradition to the United States. Quiboloy, who leads the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) sect, is wanted by American authorities on charges including child sex trafficking and bulk cash smuggling. The Makati Regional Trial Court issued the warrant and a hold-departure order on Thursday after determining there was probable cause to support the charges.

While many people search for information about the Philippines, this legal development marks a significant shift in the preacher's ongoing cases. The Philippine Department of Justice confirmed that the government filed the extradition petition on Monday, three months after the formal request from Washington. Under local legal procedures, the court must now conduct hearings to determine if Quiboloy should be handed over to US authorities. The same arrest orders were issued for two of his associates, Teresita Dandan and Helen Panilag, both of whom remain at large.

A Philippine court ordered the arrest of jailed preacher Apollo Quiboloy to facilitate potential US extradition proceedings.

Quiboloy, who describes himself as the “appointed son of God,” is currently held without bail in Pasig while facing separate domestic human trafficking charges, which carry a potential life sentence. He also faces a child abuse trial in Quezon City. The preacher has consistently denied all allegations and pleaded not guilty to the domestic charges. A 2021 US grand jury indictment alleged that Quiboloy engaged in a conspiracy involving sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion. Police reports from his 2024 arrest indicated that victims were allegedly coerced through threats involving “angels of death,” though the church has previously stated that members maintained freedom of choice.

Beyond his religious leadership, Quiboloy is a prominent political figure and a close ally of former President Rodrigo Duterte. Despite his incarceration, he unsuccessfully ran for a Senate seat last year, securing 5.6 million votes. His sect claims to have millions of followers and operates its own television network.

Why it matters

The court's decision initiates the formal process for a high-profile extradition that could see a significant religious and political figure sent to the United States. While the timing of the warrant has raised questions, government officials have denied any connection to the upcoming visit of US President Donald Trump to Manila for the ASEAN summit, describing the development as a coincidence.