THE Workers and Peasants Party (WPP) yesterday denied endorsing the senatorial bid of Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) pastor Apollo Quiboloy, saying it would be impossible for him to secure a certificate of nomination and acceptance (CONA) sans knowledge of party officials.
On Tuesday, Quiboloy filed his COC to run for senator through his authorized representative, lawyer Mark Tolentino. He listed the WPP as his political party.
In a statement, WPP president Sonny Matula said they were caught by surprise that Quiboloy filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for senator with a supposed CONA from WPP attached.
“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,” said Matula.
“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,” he also said.
Matula said the allegations against Quiboloy are entirely incompatible with the values that the party upholds.
“The WPP cannot, under any circumstances, endorse an individual facing serious allegations, including trafficking, money laundering, and sexual abuse of minors, all of which have findings of probable cause,” he said.
Quiboloy is currently detained at the Pasig city jail on orders of the Pasig trial court, where a human trafficking case is filed against the religious leader.
A separate complaint of child abuse is pending before a Quezon City trial court.
The pastor’s detention came following a police operation at the KOJC compound in Davao City, where he and his co-accused in the cases have been hiding since warrants for their arrest were issued by the Pasig city and Quezon city courts.
On September 8, Quiboloy and four of his co-accused surrendered after policemen surrounded the Bible School building inside the compound. Quiboloy and the others had been given a 24-hour ultimatum to surrender, or lawmen would assault the building.
Quiboloy also has an arrest order from the Senate for his refusal to participate in the chamber’s investigation into the complaints of former KOJC members against the religious leader.
Matula said the WPP will explore its legal options against Quiboloy for misrepresenting his political affiliation and listing the political party in his COC without its authority.
“Rest assured, once our investigation concludes, we will take the necessary legal action to protect the integrity of the WPP. We will be filing for the cancellation of the CONA and pursuing appropriate legal charges against any individuals who have usurped authority to issue such documents without a legal basis,” he also said.
Documents from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday showed that the WPP has submitted two sets of Sworn List of Authorized Signatories.
One that was submitted on September 25 has lawyers Ariel Joseph Arias, Jose ‘Sonny’ Matula, Allan Montano, and Dr. Oscar Morado as official signatories.
Another one was submitted on September 30, with lawyer Mark Kristopher Tolentino and Roberto Pascual as the authorized signatories of the WPP.
According to Comelec chairman George Garcia, it is unlikely that the issue on his CONA will be a ground for disqualification for Quiboloy.
“If the problem is with the CONA, I doubt it is enough basis to cancel his candidacy,” said Garcia in a press briefing.
Under Resolution No. 11045, an aspirant, who has submitted a CONA not duly signed by the authorized signatory of the political party shall be considered as an independent candidate.
Senate deputy minority leader Risa Hontiveros slammed Quiboloy for his senatorial bid amid the string of cases filed against him.
“Apollo Quiboloy, magkaroon naman kayo ng kaunting hiya. Para sa isang taong humaharap sa patong-patong na kaso kabilang ang human trafficking at child abuse, at nagtago pa nga sa batas, nagkaroon pa talaga kayo ng lakas ng loob na ipresenta ang inyong sarili sa taumbayan para maging mambabatas
(Apollo Quiboloy, please have a little shame. You really have the guts to present yourself to the people to become a lawmaker amid the cases filed against you, including human trafficking and child abuse. You even went into hiding),” Hontiveros said in a statement.
While it is the right of every qualified Filipino to run for public office, Hontiveros is confident the voters will also exercise their right to elect their rightful officials.
“… Nagtitiwala akong may sapat na kaalaman tayong mga Pilipino para gamitin natin ang ating karapatang pumili ng ating mga lider para hindi iboto si Quiboloy (I trust that Filipinos have enough knowledge to use their right to elect leaders so they will not vote for Quiboloy). Let us not elect lawbreakers as lawmakers,” she said.
Rep. Arlene Brosas (PL, Gabriela) shared Hontiveros’ sentiments, as she lambasted Quiboloy and called his Senate bid a mockery of both the country’s electoral and judicial systems. — With Raymond Africa and Wendell Vigilia
