MANILA, Philippines?Evangelist Eduardo ?Brother Eddie? Villanueva said he believed all sectors of society would come around under his ?moral and righteous leadership? if he won in the May presidential election.

He said he would suspend foreign debt payments, either by repealing the automatic debt servicing law or by negotiating with foreign creditors, to free up billions of pesos in government revenues and pump prime the economy.

?Once they see a moral, righteous leadership, everyone will pay correct taxes because they know there will be no more corruption,? he said at the first Inquirer-sponsored presidential forum.

?We can easily negotiate to restructure our debts once our foreign creditors see the sincerity of the government,? said Villanueva, who taught economics before turning full-time evangelist.

Villanueva said he was confident that communist and Muslim secessionist rebels would lay down their arms under his moral leadership.

Asked if his being a Christian leader would hamper peace talks with Muslim secessionists, Villanueva said he saw this as an asset because the other party would recognize in him a ?godly, righteous leader.?

?There should be no problem because Brother Eddie is a godly righteous leader. This would help in the peace process not only with the MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) but with the communists,? he said Villanueva.

The leader of the Jesus is Lord Church group said he favored having a party-list group in Congress that advocates gay rights.

On a lighter note, Villanueva said he deferred to his wife, Dr. Adoracion ?Dory? Villanueva.

Asked by Inquirer columnist Rina Jimenez-David whether the husband or the wife should have the final say on the number of children, Villanueva said women?s rights were primordial.

?The wife has the last say. ?Yes Ma?am?,? he quipped.