Comelec Criticized for Allowing Pastor Apollo Quiboloy in 2025 Elections
COMELEC – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is under fire for its decision to allow Pastor Apollo Quiboloy to run in the 2025 elections despite facing serious legal charges.
The Filipinos are just months away from electing the next batch of senators to join the current lawmakers in the Senate. However, some senatorial candidates have sparked mixed reactions online.
One of the most controversial candidacies is that of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, whose bid for the Senate in 2025 has drawn strong public criticism. Many Filipinos have expressed disapproval over his decision to run for office, especially given his current detention.
Quiboloy, the founder and leader of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, went into hiding for several months before being arrested in September. He now faces multiple allegations and is detained at the Pasig City Jail.
Based on a report from Philstar, the Workers’ and Peasants’ Party (WPP) has condemned the Comelec for allowing Quiboloy to pursue his Senate candidacy despite the serious charges against him, including allegations of human trafficking and child sexual abuse. The decision has ignited a political controversy.
WPP President Sonny Matula denounced the ruling, describing it as a “reward” for someone accused of breaking the law. “This isn’t just an insult to the democratic process – it’s an insult to logic and fairness. Why reward someone with a track record of breaking the law over a candidate with a clean slate?” Matula stated.
The Comelec recently upheld a decision dismissing a petition to declare Quiboloy a nuisance candidate, which has further fueled public criticism. Matula argued that this ruling compromises the integrity of the electoral process and does a disservice to the Filipino people.
“With all due respect, Comelec’s decision-making seems to have lost its anchor in reason. How can you justify a process that allows for piecemeal justice? It’s not just illogical; it’s a disservice to the Filipino people,” he said.
In response, the WPP announced its intention to petition the Supreme Court to overturn what it described as an “unfair and discriminatory” ruling. They also noted Quiboloy’s failure to meet a crucial deadline to respond to the petition, further questioning the fairness of Comelec’s decision.
“This is not just a technical lapse – it’s a blatant mockery and trivialization of the electoral process,” Matula emphasized.