Legarda, Escudero top Quiboloy’s picks

DAVAO CITY—Controversial televangelist Apollo Quiboloy named Thursday 12 senatorial candidates that his religious group, Kingdom of Jesus Christ, The Name Above Every Name, will be supporting on May 13.

Quiboloy said they have placed their bets on the 12 because of their good relationship with his ministry and not based on money or other favors.

“This is based on their closeness to the ministry and their support to what the ministry is advocating. This is about our relationship with them and their relationship with us,” said Quiboloy, a self-proclaimed “Appointed Son of God.”

The chosen 12 are: Reelectionists Loren Legarda and Francis Escudero; former Senators Miguel Zubiri and Richard Gordon; Representatives Cynthia Villar, Sonny Angara, JV Ejercito and Jack Enrile; former Movie and Television Review and Classification Board chair Grace Poe; former National Youth Commission chair Bam Aquino; former Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn; and Nancy Binay.

Quiboloy said the ministry has more than six million members and partners and the voting population is a “kingdom secret.”

It is believed, however, that Quiboloy’s group has a voting population of two to three million.

Quiboloy, who cited Legarda for her performance as senator and environmentalist, welcomed Quiboloy’s endorsement, saying it “serves as a strong expression of support to the causes I have been espousing and the programs I plan to accomplish when I get reelected.”

Quiboloy said the names of their chosen candidates come from discussions and deliberations done by the “kingdom leaders.”

He said among the qualifications considered are the candidates’ platform, vision and program of government.

Legarda was among those invited by Quiboloy during the pastor’s recent Disneyland-themed birthday celebration at the Jose Maria College campus in Davao City.