MANILA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is expected to announce within the next few weeks his decision on the United States’ request to extradite Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, Malacañang said Monday.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Marcos told officials that the request needs to be carefully studied before the government decides how to proceed.

“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 they will announce what the decision will be,” Castro told reporters during a Palace briefing.

Castro said the Philippines has two options under its extradition treaty with the United States.

One is for Quiboloy to remain in the Philippines while his local cases are heard. The other is to temporarily suspend the local proceedings and extradite him to the US.

“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 ma-hold, ma-suspend ang kaso at magkaroon ng extradition at maipadala si Pastor Quiboloy sa US,” Castro said.

Asked which option Marcos was inclined to take, Castro said she could not disclose the President’s position.

“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.

She stressed that the decision would have to undergo the proper legal process.

“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 patungkol dito,” Castro said.

The Department of Justice is currently reviewing the voluminous records supporting the US extradition request, which was transmitted by the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The US is seeking Quiboloy’s extradition over federal charges including sex trafficking, visa fraud and bulk cash smuggling.

Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez earlier said American authorities were eager for the Philippines to resolve the extradition request.

If extradition is approved, US authorities would take custody of Quiboloy and bring him to the US to face the charges, subject to the terms of the Philippine-US extradition treaty.

Quiboloy, who was arrested in September 2024, is currently detained at the Pasig City Jail. He is facing local charges including qualified human trafficking and violations of Republic Act No. 7610, or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.

He has denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the Philippine qualified human trafficking charges.