4 weeks ago
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CEBU CITY — Amid legal battles and political scrutiny the detained senatorial candidate is experiencing, supporters
of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy has launched nationwide rallies to bolster his candidacy.
FULL SUPPORT In an indoor rally on Feb. 11, 2025, Kingdom of Jesus Christ members in Cebu show support to Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, who is running for senator in the 2025 elections. PHOTO BY KAISER JAN FUENTES
On Feb. 11, members of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) staged simultaneous proclamation rallies across the country, with Cebu's event taking place in Liloan town.
The gatherings aimed to energize his senatorial campaign base and expand his political reach despite ongoing controversies.
Allan Tamondong, KOJC's lead campaigner for the Visayas, said their team is intensifying efforts, including house-to-house campaigns, to gain voter support in Cebu.
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"We are reaching out not just to KOJC members but also to strong Duterte supporters in Cebu. We want to show them why Pastor Quiboloy deserves a seat in the Senate," Tamondong said, adding that there are around 200,000 KOJC members in the province.
He said that part of the group's strategy is countering negative narratives surrounding Quiboloy through an extensive information drive.
"Many people only know him through mainstream media, which paints a one-sided picture. We want to introduce the real Pastor Quiboloy and what he stands for," he added.
Quiboloy, founder of KOJC, is facing multiple cases in the Philippines and the United States, including allegations of human trafficking, sex-ual abuse and financial fraud.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has also issued a warrant for his arrest, citing serious accusations involving coercion and exploitation.
In the Philippines, he is under investigation for similar charges, with several former members of KOJC coming forward with testimonies against him.
However, his supporters remain firm, dismissing the accusations as politically motivated attempts to undermine his influence.
Tamondong said Quiboloy's senatorial bid focuses on key national concerns, including governance reforms, tourism development, agricul-tural sustainability and national security.
"Pastor sees the struggles of ordinary Filipinos, and he wants to address corruption that hinders progress, especially in tourism and agricul-ture," he said.
Quiboloy's platform includes boosting the tourism sector as a major economic driver while ensuring food sustainability through stronger ag-ricultural policies.
On national security, Tamondong said Quiboloy intends to take a hard-line stance against terrorism and other threats to the country's stability.
His long-standing ties with former president Rodrigo Duterte have further fueled debates, especially with shifting political dynamics in the cur-rent administration.
Duterte has accused the government of targeting Quiboloy and his allies for political reasons, alleging that the legal cases against the pastor serve as a distraction from pressing national issues.
For the campaign, Quiboloy's team is banking on grassroots mobilization, religious backing and Duterte's voter base to propel his candidacy.
"Our campaign structure is well-organized, with leaders and coordinators assigned to specific areas — households, markets and public spac-es," Tamondong said.
He noted that their approach extends beyond KOJC members, reaching out to diverse communities through direct voter engagement.
The team has scheduled upcoming rallies, including one in Minglanilla, Cebu, on March 8 and another in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, on March 20.
