DAVAO CITY—Members of the Jesus Is Lord Movement (JIL) have launched a campaign to convince President Benigno Aquino to reconsider a decision to drop Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Chief Joel Villanueva from the Liberal Party’s (LP’s) senatorial lineup.
Inphil Gilbuena, a ranking JIL pastor, said JIL had put up posters and tarpaulins in support of Villanueva’s inclusion in the LP senatorial ticket.
These, he said, were put up in various parts of the country, including this city, Davao Oriental, Davao del Norte, Compostela Valley, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos and Surigao provinces.
“This is our way of urging President Aquino to include Villanueva in the administration senatorial lineup,” Gilbuena said.
Villanueva, son of JIL founder Eddie Villanueva, had been considered for a slate in the administration’s senatorial lineup.
But reports quoting a Malacañang source said Mr. Aquino had opted to exclude him as he ranked low in a recent Pulse Asia survey.
Gilbuena said while Villanueva had not openly declared his intention to run for senator, JIL members are expecting him to make an announcement on Oct. 5, during the anniversary of JIL. Allan Nawal, Inquirer Mindanao