How Quiboloy Could Be Transported to the United States if Extradition Is Approved

If Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Apollo Quiboloy is eventually extradited to the United States, his journey from the Philippines would be a tightly controlled law-enforcement operation rather than an ordinary international trip.

The United States has formally requested Quiboloy’s extradition, and the request has been transmitted to the Philippine Department of Justice for evaluation. Extradition is not yet final, and Philippine authorities would first have to complete the required legal and court proceedings before any physical transfer to U.S. custody could take place.

Quiboloy also faces criminal cases in the Philippines and has denied wrongdoing.

Under the U.S.-Philippines extradition treaty, if extradition is approved, authorities from both countries must agree on the time and place where Quiboloy would be formally surrendered to the United States. The treaty also allows the Philippines to defer his surrender while domestic criminal proceedings or a sentence are pending. It provides another possibility temporary surrender to the United States for prosecution followed by his return to the Philippines if the governments agree to such an arrangement.

U.S. Marshals Expected to Handle Transportation

Although Quiboloy is wanted by the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, rather than the FBI alone, would normally be responsible for carrying out his extradition transportation once Philippine authorities surrender him.

The U.S. Marshals Service says it is the primary federal agency responsible for bringing fugitives apprehended overseas back to the United States. International extradition missions involve coordination with the U.S. Department of Justice, State Department, American embassies and foreign governments, as well as threat assessments, security arrangements, travel planning and medical evaluations.

The exact airport, aircraft and route that would be used for Quiboloy have not been publicly announced. U.S. authorities could make transportation arrangements based on security requirements and other operational considerations. The Marshals Service operates the Justice Prisoner Air Transportation System, or JPATS, which uses government-owned or leased aircraft to transport prisoners, although that does not mean JPATS has been selected for Quiboloy.

A commercial flight with law-enforcement escorts could also potentially be used depending on the circumstances, but no specific transportation plan for Quiboloy has been disclosed.

Could Quiboloy Be Handcuffed and Chained?

If Quiboloy is transferred into U.S. law-enforcement custody, restraints could be used during transportation.

U.S. Marshals detention personnel are trained to transport detainees and to apply restraints including handcuffs, waist chains and leg irons. The exact level of restraint for an individual extradition, however, depends on security, medical and operational assessments. There has been no official announcement specifying which restraints, if any, would be used on Quiboloy.

This means images of Quiboloy potentially boarding an aircraft in handcuffs, a waist chain or leg restraints are possible under normal prisoner-transport procedures, but it would be inaccurate at this stage to report that such restraints have already been ordered specifically for him.

From Philippine Custody to U.S. Custody

If all legal challenges are resolved and the Philippines authorizes his surrender, Philippine authorities would remain responsible for Quiboloy until the agreed handover. At that point, U.S. authorities would take custody and begin the international transfer.

The extradition treaty requires the requesting country in this case, the United States to bear the expenses associated with the ultimate transportation of the surrendered person.

After arriving in the United States, Quiboloy would remain in federal custody and be brought before the appropriate federal court.

The FBI says Quiboloy was indicted by a federal grand jury in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California in Santa Ana. The federal charges include conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion and sex trafficking of children, sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, conspiracy and bulk cash smuggling. A federal arrest warrant was issued on Nov. 10, 2021.

The charges are allegations, and Quiboloy would be entitled to defend himself in U.S. court if extradited.

For now, there is no confirmed departure date, flight, airport or handover schedule. The next major development will depend on the Philippine government’s review of the U.S. extradition request and subsequent court proceedings.