Apollo Quiboloy
MANILA, Philippines — The issue of the legitimacy of detained Pastor Apollo Quiboloy’s political party is not enough to block his senatorial bid, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Wednesday.
According to Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia, questions on the legitimacy of an aspirant’s party are not included as grounds for disqualification under the Omnibus Election Code and the Local Government Code.
“If it’s not stated [in the Omnibus Election Code and Local Government Code], it means the disqualification has no grounds,” he said when asked if the issue on Quiboloy’s party may lead to disqualification.
Section 68 of the Omnibus Election Code states that a candidate may only be disqualified if found guilty of bribery of election officials, committed acts of terrorism to enhance his candidacy, and spent in his election campaign an amount in excess of what is allowed, among other provisions.
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Garcia also cited Section 12 of the code, which states that candidates will be disqualified if he or she is convicted of subversion, insurrection, rebellion or any offense with a sentence of more than 18 months, or any crime involving moral turpitude; as well as those declared as “insane or incompetent.”
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On Tuesday, Oct. 8, Quiboloy’s legal counsel Mark Tolentino filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for senator under the Workers and Peasants Party (WPP).
READ: From jail, Quiboloy joins Senate race
Quiboloy could not file his COC personally as he was detained since September due to child abuse and human trafficking charges.
WPP President Sonny Matula on Tuesday said he is not aware as to who signed the certificate of nomination and acceptance (Cona) for Quiboloy.
“As president, I can confirm that I did not sign any Cona for Quiboloy,” Matula said over X (formerly Twitter).
Matula, also a senatorial aspirant, added that WPP Chairman Ariel Arias said he does not know about signing a Cona for Quiboloy.
However, Comelec later learned that the WPP has two factions.
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Garcia showed two documents each showing that Arias and Tolentino are the authorized signatories of WPP.
Both claim that their factions are the legitimate WPP, giving birth to the “Arias wing” and “Tolentino wing” of the party. It is up to the Comelec to decide whose wing will be the legitimate WPP.
Should the poll body rule against the Tolentino wing, Quiboloy will run as an independent candidate, and vice versa for bets of Arias wing.