The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has thrown out a disqualification petition against Apollo Quiboloy, a religious leader currently detained on charges of human trafficking and child abuse, allowing him to continue his bid for a Senate seat in the upcoming 2025 midterm elections. The decision, detailed in a 14-page document released on December 18, was made by the Comelec First Division, which found the evidence presented by labor leader Sonny Matula insufficient to revoke Quiboloy’s certificate of candidacy. The ruling criticized the petition for lacking both factual and legal grounds for disqualification. Additionally, the Comelec pointed out procedural errors in the petition, specifically that combining a nuisance candidacy claim with other disqualification grounds was not permissible. Matula had challenged the validity of Quiboloy’s nomination by the Workers’ and Peasants’ Party, citing an unauthorized signatory on his Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance. However, the Comelec determined that this did not amount to material misrepresentation under election laws. Quiboloy, who withdrew his party nomination on October 21 to run independently, remains in custody at Camp Crame in Quezon City as he pursues his senatorial campaign.
Apollo Quiboloy’s Senatorial Ambitions Survive Disqualification Challenge
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