An influential Philippine pastor who is wanted by the FBI for sex trafficking children has registered to run in the senate election despite being in prison.
Apollo Quiboloy, who claims to be the “appointed son of God” and is an ally of the former president Rodrigo Duterte, was until recently one of the country’s most high-profile fugitives.
He was arrested last month after a 16-day manhunt across a sprawling compound belonging to his church, the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KoJC), which he founded in 1985 after claiming to have heard the voice of God.
He isimprisoned in Pasig City jail and is facing charges of child abuse, sexual abuse and human trafficking.
Quiboloy, 74, is also wanted by the FBI after he was indicted in the US in 2021 on charges of sex trafficking, including of children, and bulk cash smuggling.
According to the FBI wanted list, victims were allegedly recruited to work as personal assistants or “pastorals” and required to have sex with Quiboloy in what was called “night duty”.
Quiboloy has denied the charges, saying they are fabricated by critics and disgruntled former members of his church.
The pastor, whose sect claims millions of followers, is politically influential, and was known for being the spiritual adviser to Duterte.
His candidacy paperwork was filed by his lawyer Mark Christopher Tolentino, who said: “He wants to be a part of the solution to the problems of our country. He is running because of God and our beloved Philippines.”
Under the election code, candidates can only be disqualified if they have been declared “insane or incompetent” or if they have exhausted all appeals “for subversion, insurrection, rebellion or for any offence for which he has been sentenced to a penalty of more than 18 months or for a crime involving moral turpitude”.
Politicians have previously run senate campaigns while facing criminal charges, and while detained in prison.
Leila de Lima, an outspoken critic of Duterte’s war on drugs, spent much of her six-year senate term in prison after she was arrested on drugs charges in 2017.
The cases against her were widely regarded as trumped up and have since been dropped. She campaigned for re-election from prison in 2022 but was unsuccessful.
Antonio Trillanes, who was imprisoned after he was accused of leading a coup attempt, was elected to the senate from behind bars in 2007.
In May 2022, Jose Estrada won a senate seat while on trial for corruption, of which he was later acquitted.
President Ferdinand Marcos has said Quiboloy will face charges pending in the Philippines before any possible extradition to the US is considered.