Quiboloy’s Senate bid will be challenged at SC – Matula

FILE PHOTO: Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Apollo Quiboloy. (Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)

MANILA, Philippines — Apollo Quiboloy remains in the running for senator via the May 2025 polls, but it will soon be challenged before the Supreme Court (SC).

Labor leader Sonny Matula, whose candidacy for senator was also approved by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), told INQUIRER.net he would file a petition for certiorari before the SC to overturn the poll body’s decision, stating Quiboloy is not a “nuisance candidate.” c

“We’re compelled to take this matter to the Supreme Court,” Matula, lone senatorial bet of the Workers Party of the Philippines (WPP), said in a text message.

On Dec. 27, the Comelec en banc affirmed the ruling of its First Division that denied Matula’s petition to disqualify Quiboloy from the 2025 senatorial race and to declare the sect leader, who is now in jail over allegations of child abuse, among others, a nuisance candidate.

Matula lamented Comelec’s declaration on his party mate and fellow senatorial aspirant Sultan Subair Mustapha of Marawi as a nuisance candidate even if the poll body allowed him to run for congressman in 2022.

“This isn’t just about Quiboloy. It’s about ensuring that the rule of law applies to everyone, equally and fairly,” he said in a statement.

READ: Quiboloy sexual abuse victims as young as 12 yrs old in new testimony

“The Comelec’s decision to favor someone with a questionable history over a law-abiding Sultan is not just wrong—it’s outrageous,” he added.

A jailed Quiboloy filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for senator through an authorized representative. He is running for senator under a WPP faction led by his lawyer, Mark Tolentino.

But this triggered a controversy as the Matula-led WPP faction questioned Quiboloy’s application.

Later, Comelec acknowledged that the WPP has two blocs with each being headed by Matula and Tolentino.

READ: Quiboloy: How did he land on FBI’s most-wanted list?

Matula, however, said they were not aware of Quiboloy’s senatorial run under WPP while Tolentino said the sect leader accepted their invitation for him to become a member of their group.

The Comelec earlier said that Quiboloy may still run as an independent candidate if his party nomination gets annulled.

Quiboloy eventually asked Comelec to just declare him an independent aspirant, distancing himself from the WPP party dispute.

Quiboloy has been detained at the PNP Custodial Center in Quezon City after being arrested at the Kingdom of Jesus Christ compound in Davao City last September over human trafficking and child abuse charges.