Quiboloy’s 2025 Senate bid challenged before SC

Detained Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Apollo Quiboloy at a Senate probe last October 23, 2024. (Noy Morcoso/INQUIRER.net file photo)
MANILA, Philippines — The attempt of detained sect leader Apollo Quiboloy to become a senator via the May 2025 polls has been challenged before the Supreme Court (SC).
Labor leader Sonny Matula told INQUIRER.net that he filed a petition for certiorari before the high court on Wednesday to overturn the decision of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) allowing Quiboloy to run for senator.
Comelec First Division said Matula failed to comply with Section 1(b) of Resolution No. 11046, which states that a petition to declare a candidate as nuisance cannot be combined with other grounds for a separate remedy. This decision was then affirmed by the poll body en banc on Dec. 27, prompting Matula to seek SC’s help.
The poll body has different procedures for petitions for disqualification, denial of due course or cancellation of a certificate of candidacy for material misrepresentation, and declaration of a candidate as nuisance.
“It is humbly submitted that including a prayer to declare the respondent a nuisance candidate in such petitions cannot be prohibited —it’s like trying to separate peanut butter and jelly on a perfectly good sandwich,” the 19-page petition reads.
Article continues after this advertisement“These issues are clearly related! If the Honorable Commission can already declare a candidate a nuisance on its own, then why can’t this delightful tidbit of justice be mixed with other related matters? Frankly, we find no logic in such a rule—it’s like banning pineapples on pizza just because it’s controversial,” he added.
Article continues after this advertisementMatula is also running for senator in this year’s polls. In 2022, he ran under the slate of then-presidential candidate former vice president Leni Robredo, getting around three million votes.
Quiboloy’s legal counsel Mark Tolentino said they will face the SC case.
“I am ready to face you in the Supreme Court!” Tolentino told INQUIRER.net in direct response to Matula’s petition.
Tolentino also deemed Matula’s petition as “nuisance.”
“Find another way if you want to gain popularity and introduce yourself to the people, don’t use Pastor ACQ (Apollo Carreon Quiboloy). This is my friendly advice!,” he added.
READ: Quiboloy: How did he land on FBI’s most-wanted list?
The Comelec also said earlier 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 KJC compound in Davao City last September over human trafficking and child abuse charges.