The political party that Quiboloy wrote in his COC for the senator requests his disqualification

The Workers and Peasants Party accuses Apollo Quiboloy of making false statements in his candidacy documents by claiming to be affiliated with the WPP, when he is not.

MANILA, Philippines — A political party that doomsday preacher Apollo Quiboloy wants to use as a vehicle for his 2025 senatorial campaign is contesting his candidacy.

The Workers and Peasants’ Party (WPP), the party that Quiboloy wrote in his certificate of candidacy (COC), alleged that the accused of human trafficking and sexual abuse made false statements in the documents that he had submitted, including his Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA).

“The CONA submitted allegedly by the WPP was signed by one Mark Kristopher Tolentino, who is not a party official and is not authorized to (sign) the CONA. The person who submitted the respondent’s CONA was not authorized to do so under the internal party procedures and rules submitted to this honorable commission, including the authorized signatories of these certificates,” the petition reads filed Wednesday October 16.

The party argued that while submitting an unauthorized CONA does not constitute explicit grounds for disqualification, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) can cancel one’s candidacy for “falsely (claiming) to have been properly nominated by a political party by means of an unauthorized or false application. CONA.

“It is argued that, as his action shows, his certificate was filed to make a mockery of the electoral process, as Quiboloy is playing the game of ‘smoke and mirrors’ at the expense of the WPP,” the party said.

“He is using the election process as a smokescreen to distract from the serious criminal charges he faces, including alleged charges of human trafficking and sexual abuse of minors. This undermines the integrity of the 2025 senatorial elections and makes a mockery of our democratic system,” he adds.

Besides the WPP, the complaint also names Sonny Matula, party president and also a candidate in the 2025 senatorial elections, as a petitioner.

Rappler reached out to Quiboloy’s camp for reaction, but we have yet to receive a response.

Quiboloy, who has been in custody since his surrender in early September, filed his senatorial COC through his lawyer Mark Tolentino on October 8.

Tolentino said the embattled preacher, if elected, would advocate, among other things, for religious freedom, accessible medical services and “zero corruption.”

A Comelec memo released later Wednesday included Quiboloy in the initial list of candidates for the 2025 Senate elections, after removing potentially harmful bets from the list. – Rappler.com