The Palace said on Monday that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is yet to decide on whether to oblige the United States on their extradition request for doomsday preacher and alleged sex felon Pastor Apollo Quiboloy or to retain custody of him so that he may face the local courts first.

“Kailangan daw po itong pag-aralan nang mabuti. Pero in a couple of weeks ay magbibigay po sila ng anunsyo, kung ano ang magiging desisyon para dito,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said during a press briefing at the Malacañang.

She clarified that the high-profile suspect may either remain in the country to answer for local charges, or his trial may be held off temporarily to give way for his extradition.

“Nasa agreement po iyan, nasa treaty natin with the US, at kasama po ito sa provision, kaya mayroon tayong dalawang options: either manatili dito si Pastor Quiboloy habang dinidinig ang kaso dito sa Pilipinas. Pero puwede na temporarily, ma-hold, ma-suspend ang kaso dito at magkaroon ng extradition at maipadala si Pastor Quiboloy sa US,” the Palace official told reporters.

On August 6, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed that it had received a formal request from the US to extradite Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader Quiboloy.

He has been charged with 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, among other cases.