Labor group to question Quiboloy’s candidacy in SC
Detained preacher and indicted sex offender Apollo Quiboloy may face yet another hurdle after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) already gave the green light for his senatorial candidacy.
The Workers’ and Peasants’ Party (WPP), led by senatorial candidate Sonny Matula, will file a petition for certiorari before the Supreme Court, seeking to overturn what they describe as “a grossly unfair and discriminatory ruling” by the Comelec in Quiboloy’s behalf.
In a statement on Sunday, WPP called Comelec’s decision dismissing their petition to declare Quiboloy a nuisance candidate “a biblical moment of injustice.”
“It’s like the choice between Barabbas and the innocent man, Jesus—and Comelec’s choice is clear: they’ve gone with Barabbas,” Matula said in a statement on Sunday.
Comelec ruling
WPP said the Comelec ruling rewarded a lawbreaker, while sidelining deserving candidates like Sultan Subair Mustapha of Marawi and others who are untainted by any charges.
The Comelec in November wiped out the entire 10-man Senate slate of WPP, except for Matula, after declaring them a nuisance.
“This isn’t just an insult to the sultan or the democratic process—it’s an insult to logic and fairness. Why reward someone with a track record of breaking the law over a candidate with a clean slate?” Matula said.
The Comelec en banc in a decision on Dec. 27 denied the motion for reconsideration filed by Matula to disqualify Quiboloy, citing lack of merit.
The en banc noted that the procedural and substantive issues raised by Matula had already been addressed by the Comelec First Division when it decided to allow Quiboloy, the founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ sect, to run for senator.
The 74-year-old Quiboloy is currently detained at the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame.
He is facing a slew of criminal charges, including violation of the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act and qualified human trafficking charges.
