Apollo Quiboloy files candidacy for senator

The self-proclaimed Son of God Apollo Quiboloy, who is in detention due to several cases, has filed a certificate of candidacy (COC) for Senator for the 2025 polls. 

This was confirmed by Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman George Garcia.  

“Yes, [Mr. Quiboloy filed COC], thru his lawyer Mark Tolentino,” Garcia told reporters.

Tolentino later said that Quiboloy will be pushing for protection of religious freedom.

“The people will campaign for him. Pastor Apollo Quiboloy is running for Senator of the Republic of the Philippines because he wants to be a part of the solution. His platform of government is God-centered, Philippine-centered, and Filipino-centered, and his priority is religious freedom,” Tolentino said.

“Pastor Quiboloy believes religious freedom is inviolable. The government should secure the holy grounds against state forces. Secondly, the poor should be protected, particularly their health, with free medicine and medical services. Pastor Quiboloy will be the Senator of the poor, ordinary Filipinos. He will be accessible and will be willing to hear them out. He wants  quality education and zero corruption,” Tolentino added.

Tolentino said such advocacies are reflected in Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), the religious group headed by Quiboloy.

“The things Pastor did in the KOJC, he will do the same for all Filipinos,” Tolentino added.

Among the cases Quiboloy is facing include alleged violation of the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act and qualified human trafficking charges. 

Some of his accusers are former KOJC members. 

Quiboloy is also facing charges of alleged conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion and sex trafficking of children; sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion; conspiracy; and bulk cash smuggling charges in the United States.

Another aspirant who filed COC for Senator as an independent candidate is Eric Martinez, an incumbent Valenzuela Second District Representative.

“I am a serious candidate for the Senate,” Martinez said, adding that longstanding political career dating back to 1992 as Sangguniang Kabataan Kagawad has equipped him for his Senate bid. 

—with reports from Celine SerquiñaVAL, GMA Integrated News