A claim is alleging that the extradition to the United States for Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Apollo Quiboloy clears him from U.S. charges of child sex trafficking and fraud filed by a federal jury. This is false.
Posted on Aug. 15 and 16, the video’s headline and thumbnail read:
“Pastor Extradition Ay Kalayaan Para Sa Kanya! KOJC Panalo Sa Kaso Sa Amerika (Pastor Extradition means freedom for him! KOJC wins cases in America).”
The erroneous video posted on YouTube was accompanied by the text:
“Extradition ng Amerika laban kay Pastor ay ang magpapalaya sa lahat ng mga akusasyon laban sa kanya. Mga mabibigat na kaso ng mga KOJC Leaders sa Amerika ang mga nabasura na.
(Extradition to America will clear Pastor of all accusations; serious charges against KOJC leaders in the U.S. have already been dismissed).”
Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Romualdez revealed that the U.S. asked for the extradition of Quiboloy to face the charges filed against him by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The formal request was received by the Department of Foreign Affairs on Aug. 6, then forwarded to and received by the Department of Justice on Aug. 7.
The DOJ is still reviewing “voluminous documents” that came with the request, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro confirmed in a press briefing on Aug. 25.
“Whether there is dual criminality, meaning whether the offenses he would face in the U.S. are also punishable under Philippine law,” she explained.
In November 2021, the Central District of California issued a federal warrant against Quiboloy due to his indictment for: conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, trafficking of children, fraud and coercion, substantive sex trafficking, and conspiracy and bulk cash smuggling.
The fake video also claims that other KOJC members who are Quiboloy’s co-defendants in the immigration fraud case were acquitted.
But one of the co-defendants, Los Angeles–based paralegal Maria De Leon, had admitted to participating in the immigration fraud scheme with Quiboloy. She was sentenced to time served on Aug. 5.
Cases against some other KOJC members remain active and pending. KOJC administrators Teresita Dandan and Helen Panilag are still wanted for their alleged roles in trafficking children.
The false claims resurfaced after Romualdez confirmed on Aug. 6 the formal request for Quiboloy’s extradition.
YouTube channel Bisdak Pilipinas (created Sep. 17, 2021) has garnered 16,694 views, 2,500 reactions, and 124 comments. The reposted video of Bisdak Pilipinas on Facebook by FB page Chang Joy Lozada (created June 2019) has drawn 816 reactions, 80 comments, and 607 shares.
