House Deputy Speaker Eddie Villanueva, founder of JIL. (File photo by RICHARD A. REYES / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
MANILA, Philippines — Contrary to his previous statement, Jesus is Lord (JIL) founder Eduardo “Bro. Eddie” Villanueva said Thursday that endorsing a presidential bet remains a possibility although they are still in the process of studying the platforms of candidates.
Villanueva said the JIL is still studying who among the applicants for the highest government post has the closest “God-fearing public service principle” to their church.
“That’s a possibility but as of now, we are studying all the platforms of all the presidential candidates,” Villanueva said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel when asked if JIL will endorse a presidential candidate in the May elections.
“Tinitingnan namin kung alin yung closest sa God-fearing public service principle ng Jesus is Lord Movement. Kasi alam naman natin kapag walang genuine fear of God ang sinumang leader, mahirap siyang magkaroon ng wisdom,” he added.
(We are checking who among the candidates has the closest principle to the Jesus is Lord Movement which is God-fearing public service. We know that if a leader has no genuine fear of God, it’s hard for them to have wisdom.)
Villanueva said that when a government official is God-fearing, he/she would be afraid to commit corruption.
“Kaya mahalaga sa amin yung God-fearing. Pag God-fearing talagang matatakot kang gumawa ng mga gargantuan corruption right and left,” Villanueva said.
(That’s why it’s important for us that a candidate is God-fearing. When a candidate is God-fearing, he/she will be afraid to commit corruption left and right.)
“Alam naman natin ang history, kung sino ang mga kabarkada ng presidente, sila ang naging instant multi-millionaires at instant billionaires. If we are serious really, we can seriously fight corruption with moral and spiritual revolutionary program,” he added.
(We know in history that the friends of the president become instant multi-millionaires and instant billionaires.)
Villanueva’s latest remarks are different from his earlier statement that the JIL will not be endorsing any presidential bet in the May 9 polls, saying he does not want to be “irresponsible” in backing candidates.
He also pointed out that most of the contenders are friends of his son, reelectionist Senator Joel Villanueva.
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