Workers' party surprised as Apollo Quiboloy runs under them

MANILA, Philippines — Apollo Quiboloy's submission of his Senate candidacy has caught the president of the party he is running under off-guard as he said that neither he nor other leaders of the party approved his nomination.

Quiboloy's certificate of candidacy, submitted Tuesday, October 8, lists his candidacy as part of the Workers and Peasants' Party (WPP). But WPP President Sonny Matula said he is "not aware" of who cleared the detained sex trafficker's nomination. 

"Only three individuals are authorized to sign on behalf of WPP: the Chair, the President, and the Senior Vice President. As President, I can confirm that I did not sign any CONA for Quiboloy," Matula said in an X post. 

The WPP president said the party's chairperson, Ariel Arias, and senior vice president, Oscar Morado, have "no knowledge of signing a CONA for him."

The Certificate of Nomination and Acceptance (CONA), issued by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), is an official document from a political party that confirms a candidate as their chosen representative for a specific elective position. 

"We will be inquiring from COMELEC who signed his CONA," Matula said.

Comelec Spokesperson Rex Laudiangco told reporters late Tuesday that the poll body will consult with its law department on the matter.

"Since COC is executed under oath, failure to declare the truth may subject the aspirant to perjury,” Laudiangco said.

The Comelec official explained that all certificates of candidacy (COC) and CONAs are simply received as filed during the filing period and will have to undergo further validation. 

After the COC filing period, Laudiangco said the law department will process all submissions to review the following information:

Verification. The department will check if all signatories possess the appropriate authority and examine any limitations associated with their signing authority.

Specimen signature comparison. The department will cross-reference the signatures on the CONAs with the specimen signatures submitted by the parties, which should have been submitted before September 30.

Candidate status. Individuals with CONAs not issued by duly authorized signatories will be declared independent