Comelec en banc Issues Decision on Motion To Block Apollo Quiboloy’s Bid for Senator
APOLLO QUIBOLOY – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc junked the motion for reconsideration seeking to block the Senate bid of the Pastor.
The Filipinos are a few months away from voting for the next set of senators that will join the existing lawmakers in the Senate. However, there are senatorial candidates whose candidacy gathered different reactions from the netizens.
The bid for senator of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy in 2025 is one of the candidacies that elicited different reactions from the public. Undeniably, countles Filipinos criticized the decision of the Pastor to run for a seat in the Senate amid his detention.
Quiboloy was in hiding for several months prior to his arrest in September. The founder and leader of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ is faced with several accusations and he is currently detained in Pasig City Jail.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) conducted intensified operations inside the Kingdom of Jesus Christ or KOJC compound in Davao City for a few weeks. The police ops reportedly included drilling activities.
Countless Filipinos were shocked when Pastor Apollo Quiboloy filed his Certificate of Candidacy or COC for senator in the 2025 Midterm Elections. He filed his COC under the Workers’ and Peasants’ Party but Sonny Matula denied that the WPP gave the Pastor a Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance or CONA.
Quiboloy withdrew his CONA and decided to run as an independent candidate for senator. His lawyer stressed that he will be the senator for the poor and the workers.
The Comission on Elections previously released an initial list of qualified candidates for senator and the list included the Pastor. Quiboloy also made it to the Comelec’s final list of candidates for senator in the 2025 Elections.
However, Workers and Peasants’ Party’s Sonny Matula filed a motion for reconsideration seeking to overturn the Comelec First Division’s decision on the Senate run of Pastor Quiboloy. Based on a report on GMA News, the Comelec en banc has released its decision.
The Commission on Elections or Comelec en banc junked the motion for reconsideration seeking to overturn the decision of the poll body’s First Division regarding the senatorial bid of the Pastor.
“WHEREFORE, premises considered, the Commission (En Banc) RESOLVED, as it hereby RESOLVES, to DENY the Motion for Reconsideration. The Assailed Resolution is HEREBY AFFIRMED,” the en banc stated in its decision.
Based on the report, the Comelec en banc explained that there is allegedly no valid ground cited in the motion for reconsideration. Comelec chairman George Garcia, Commissioners Socorro Inting, Marlon Casquejo, Aimee Ferolino, Rey Bulay, Ernesto Ferdinand Maceda Jr., and Nelson Celis signed the resolution released by the poll body.
As mentioned, the Pastor is currently detained in Pasig City Jail. Quiboloy’s camp previously submitted an appeal for his transfer but planned to take it back.