Apollo Quiboloy’s Senate bid tests ‘unholy’ grip of religion on Philippines politics

As his legal troubles mount, the Duterte-linked pastor’s candidacy blurs the lines between religious influence and political power

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Apollo Quiboloy’s lawyer holds the Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder’s certificate of candidacy for the 2025 Senate elections on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

Published: 10:00am, 13 Oct 2024

Controversial Philippine evangelist Apollo Quiboloy’s bid for a Senate seat in the 2025 midterm elections is raising alarms about an “unholy alliance between religion and politics”, as observers say the pastor is leveraging his charisma and political connections in an attempt to shield himself from serious legal consequences.

Known for his close ties to former President Rodrigo Duterte, Quiboloy is currently wanted in the United States on charges of money laundering and sex trafficking involving minors. Remarkably, he managed to file his certificate of candidacy during the Philippines’ week-long filing period, even while detained at Camp Crame, a facility for high-profile suspects.

As the head of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) megachurch, Quiboloy faces multiple charges in the Philippines, including child sex abuse and human trafficking. He has been placed on the FBI’s most-wanted list for similar offences. His legal counsel, who registered Quiboloy’s Senate candidacy on his behalf, argues that the 74-year-old pastor is eligible to run for public office since he has not yet been convicted of any charges.

Despite the Philippine constitution’s assertion of a separation between church and state, faith – particularly Christianity – has long been intertwined with politics in the country.

Nearly 89 per cent of Filipinos are Christians, most of them Roman Catholics – a legacy of over 300 years of Spanish colonisation.

A re-enactment of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ is held in San Fernando City, the Philippines, to mark Good Friday in March. Photo: EPA-EFE

Robbin Dagle, a researcher of religion and society in the Philippines, told This Week in Asia that the notion of separation often translates into a “benevolent neutrality” towards religion in governance, reflected in approaches to legal issues such as divorce and LGBTQ rights.