El Shaddai spiritual leader Mike Velarde
MANILA, Philippines – Two more Team PNoy senatorial candidates have been endorsed by the White Vote Movement composed of 46 organizations including the group of El Shaddai Bro. Mike Velarde.
The two were former Senator Ramon “Jun” Magsaysay Jr. and Bam Aquino, cousin of President Benigno Aquino III.
Velarde himself faced the media when he endorsed Magsaysay on Tuesday. Bam Aquino was not present.
“The White Vote Movement has announced 10 [candidates] previously and I got the permission to include two more— Jun Magsaysay and Bam Aquino,” he said during a press conference at his office in Makati City.
The two completed the list of 12 senatorial bets that the group would support in the May 13 elections.
The 10 senatorial bets that the group had earlier endorsed were re-electionist Senators Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV, Gringo Honasan, Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, former Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri and Richard Gordon, Zambales Representative Milagros “Mitos” Magsaysay, San Juan Representative JV Ejercito, former Las Piñas Representative Cynthia Villar, Nancy Binay and Marwil Llasos of Kapatiran.
Velarde said the selection process of the White Vote Movement council ended after it proclaimed the first 10 candidates but he said he sought the permission of the group to include Magsaysay and Aquino in the list.
“Personal ito for El Shaddai but with the consent of the White Vote na magdadag ako ng dalawa,’ he explained.
Asked if the other member-organizations of the movement had also approved the two, Velarde said: “Ah oo, sama-sama. Kung baga, pananagutan ko silang dalawa.
El Shaddai alone, he said, can deliver 1.5 million votes for the candidates they are supporting.
Velarde said the senatorial bets were selected based on three Cs–conscience, competence and commitment.
And while they did not ask anything in exchange for their support, Velarde said they expect their candidates to fight for life and protection of Filipino families.
“But we agreed that we should not be stuck with the RH (Reproductive Health) bill. There are so many issues concerning family and life like the pending divorce law, same sex marriage, abortion, etc. that will eventually affect the Filipino family,” Velarde said.
Unlike Iglesia Ni Cristo, which is known for bloc voting, Velarde reiterated that their followers are not forced to vote for the 12 candidates they have endorsed, saying that the list would just serve as a guide.
“We’re giving them a direct guidance na ito ang i-consider nyo but still they are free to make a choice,” he pointed out.
Magsaysay was elated by the endorsement, saying it was “very crucial” and “significant” considering that it came from a Christian group that is “focused” on keeping the Filipino family intact and protected.