Senator Risa Hontiveros (left), Pastor Apollo Quiboloy (Facebook, MANILA BULLETIN)

A little shame can go a long way, pastor. 

This was essentially Senator Risa Hontiveros' message to controversial Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) founder, Pastor Apollo Quiboloy after she learned that the latter filed a certificate of candidacy (COC) for senator in the May 2025 elections.

"Apollo Quiboloy, magkaroon naman kayo ng kaunting hiya (please have a bit of shame)," Hontiveros said in a statement Wednesday, Oct. 9 

"Para sa isang taong humaharap sa patong-patong na kaso kabilang ang human trafficking at child abuse, at nagtago pa nga sa batas, nagkaroon pa talaga kayo ng lakas ng loob na ipresenta ang iyong sarili sa taumbayan para maging mambabatas," she said. 

(For someone who is facing multiple cases including human trafficking and child abuse, and even became  a fugitive, you really had the audacity to present yourself to the people as an aspiring lawmaker.) 

"Let us not elect lawbreakers as lawmakers," Hontiveros said in a apparent message to Filipinos. 

"Karapatan nga ng bawat isa sa ating tumakbo para maglingkod sa bayan, pero nagtitiwala akong may sapat na kaalaman tayong mga Pilipino para gamitin natin ang ating karapatang pumili ng ating mga lider para hindi iboto si Quiboloy," added the Senate deputy minority leader. 

(While it's everyone's right to run and serve the nation, I believe that we Filipinos have enough smarts to exercise our right to choose our leaders and not to vote for Quiboloy.) 

The KOJC leader--through a representative--filed a COC for senator on Tuesday, Oct. 8, the last day of filing. 

Quiboloy has been charged in the Philippines with qualified human trafficking and child abuse--both non-bailable offenses. In the United States (US), he has been charged with sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion; conspiracy; and bulk cash smuggling.