A detained Philippine pastor who is also wanted in the United States for sex trafficking children has registered to run in the country's senate elections next year.
Apollo Quiboloy, an ally of former president Rodrigo Duterte, is a self-proclaimed "appointed son of God" whose sect claims millions of followers.
The 74-year-old was arrested last month and is currently detained in Manila and facing charges of child abuse, sexual abuse and human trafficking. One of his lawyers filed his candidacy paperwork.
"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," lawyer Mark Christopher Tolentino said.
The preacher pledges to promote laws that are "God-centred, Philippine-centred and Filipino-centred", Mr Tolentino told journalists after submitting the candidacy papers to election officials.
Quiboloy was charged by the United States in 2021 with sex trafficking of girls and women to work as personal assistants, who were allegedly required to have sex with him during what they said was their "night duty".
He is also sought by US authorities for bulk cash smuggling and a scheme that brought church members to the US through fraudulently obtained visas.
They were then forced to solicit donations for a bogus charity, raising funds that were instead used to finance church operations and the lavish lifestyles of its leaders, according to the FBI.
Duterte to run amid drug war probes
Earlier this week, former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte registered his candidacy to run for mayor of the southern city of Davao in mid-term polls next year.
Davao is the family stronghold of Duterte, who as president launched a deadly drug war in 2016 that is the subject of local and international investigations.
The International Criminal Court is investigating allegations of human rights abuses committed during Duterte's drug war, which has continued under Marcos.
The House of Representatives is also conducting committee hearings on the drug war killings.
He has denied condoning extrajudicial killings of drug suspects.
Duterte was mayor of Davao City for about two decades before becoming president.
His decision to run again for mayor follows a bitter and public falling out with the family of Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos ahead of presidential elections in 2028.
More than 6,000 people were killed in anti-drug operations under Duterte, according to official data released by the Philippines. ICC prosecutors estimate the death toll at between 12,000 and 30,000.
Running for the Philippine senate while facing criminal probes or charges is not without precedent.
In May 2022, Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada won a senate seat while on trial for corruption. He took up the post and was acquitted in January.
Another was rights campaigner Leila de Lima, who spent the majority of her six-year senate term in prison after being detained in 2017 on drugs charges. She was cleared this year.
Candidates are only disqualified from standing in senate elections if they have exhausted all appeals after being convicted of offences involving "moral turpitude", according to the election code which does not list specific crimes.
Twelve of the 24 senate seats are up for grabs in next year's midterm polls, along with more than 18,000 congressional and local government executive posts.
AFP/ABC
