MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has dismissed a disqualification petition against the senatorial bid of Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.
The Comelec’s First Division stated that petitioner Sonny Matula failed to present enough evidence to convince the poll body to declare Quiboloy as a nuisance candidate.
“There is a dearth of evidence presented by Petitioner that could convince us that the Respondent should be declared as a nuisance candidate,” the Comelec said.
Matula previously asked Comelec to disqualify Quiboloy due to “material misrepresentation”, stating that the latter’s nomination by the Workers’ and Peasants’ Party (WPP) “had no factual and legal basis.”
Matula added that the certificate of nomination and acceptance of Quiboloy was signed by a certain Mark Tolentino, whom he alleged was not an officer or member of the WPP.
Comelec, however, stated that Matula’s failed to comply with its rules that “petition to declare a candidate as a nuisance candidate cannot be combined with other grounds for a separate remedy.”
The poll body also said that the current petition provided grounds that were “incorrect and without factual and legal evidence.”
“The Petitioner maintained that Respondent’s submission of an unauthorized CONA was a violation of WPP’s and this Commission’s rules, and that it was a clear ground for the cancellation of his COC. We do not agree,” the decision read.
“It could be determined that the argument relied upon by the Petitioner is patently erroneous. When the Commission denies due course to or cancels a candidate’s COC, this is due to a finding that the candidate made a material misrepresentation in his or her COC which is false,” it added.
“Clearly, membership or nomination by political party is not among the qualifications for the position of Senator. Thus, the submission of a CONA that was signed by unauthorized individual is not equivalent to material misrepresentation that will affect the Respondent’s eligibility,” it continued.
Quiboloy, who is currently detained due to various cases, announced in October that he would continue his bid for senator as an independent bet for Eleksyon 2025./PN
