Comelec: Quiboloy may be declared independent Senate bet

Evangelist Apollo Quiboloy may be declared an independent senatorial bet in the May 2025 elections after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday said it received two sets of authorized signatories from the Workers' and Peasants' Party (WPP).

Documents shared to reporters by the poll body showed the camps of lawyers Mark Kristopher Tolentino and Ariel Joseph Arias submitted separate lists of authorized signatories for WPP.

The Tolentino group submitted its list on Sept. 30, 2024, naming Tolentino and Roberto Pascual as signatories, while the Arias group listed Arias, and lawyers Sonny Matula, Allan Montano, and Oscar Morado as the same.

"May natanggap kaming dalawa patungkol sa WPP. Dalawa ang natanggap namin na authorized signatories: isang Tolentino-wing at isang Arias-wing," said Comelec chairperson George Garcia.

(We received two sets of authorized signatories from WPP: one from the Tolentino-wing and another from the Arias-wing.)

Tolentino signed Quiboloy's certificate of nomination and acceptance (CONA) on behalf of WPP.

Quiboloy's certificate of candidacy (COC) for senator, meanwhile, indicates that he was nominated by the same party.

"Dahil dalawa ang naka-authorized signatory, kapag nag-submit para sa parehas na position ang dalawang grupo… lalabas magkaibang CONA, [magiging] independent candidate ang mismong kandidato," the poll chief added.

(Because there are two authorized signatories, if two groups made separate submissions for the same position... then there will be two CONAs, and the candidate will be deemed an independent candidate.)

Quiboloy, who is in detention due to several cases, filed his COC for senator on Tuesday through Tolentino.

Matula earlier said that he did not sign any CONA for Quiboloy's candidacy.

Sought for comment, Matula said in a text message: "i dont know atty tolentino as a member of wpp."

For his part, Tolentino was asked if he was aware that the Arias group submitted a different list of authorized signatories.

"Yes... ibang grupo yan. Under workers party philippines. Tayo naman is under workers and peasants party," Tolentino said in a message to GMA News Online.

(Yes... that's another group. Under workers party philippines. Our group is under workers and peasants party.)

Legal action

In a statement on Wednesday, Matula said legal action would be taken following an investigation into Quiboloy's CONA supposedly issued under the WPP.

"We want to categorically state that Quiboloy has no official endorsement from the leadership of the WPP and is not a member of the party," Matula said.

"Our investigation seeks to understand how Quiboloy obtained a CONA under our party, given that only three individuals are authorized to sign such documents: the Chair, the President, and the Senior Vice President. Our Secretary General is abroad and cannot sign any CONA," Matula said.

He added, "As the President of WPP, I affirm that I did not sign any CONA for Quiboloy. Furthermore, both the Chair and Senior Vice President have confirmed that they, too, did not authorize or sign such a document."

Meanwhile, Garcia said the Comelec will refer the case to its law department for recommendations for possible resolution. The poll chief added that fielded bets of the faction whose authorized signature list will be junked shall be declared independent bets.

Quiboloy is facing a slew of legal charges, including the alleged violation of the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act and qualified human trafficking charges. — VDV/RSJ, GMA Integrated News