El Shaddai members back Binay, Marcos

Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Vice President Jejomar Binay

MEMBERS of the Catholic charismatic group El Shaddai are supporting the presidential and vice presidential bids of Vice President Jejomar “Jojo” Binay and Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., respectively, in Monday’s elections.

However, the members’ support does not translate to an endorsement from their influential leader, Bro. Mike Velarde.

“He (Velarde) knows about and respects the members’ decision to support Binay-Marcos. But it doesn’t mean he’s endorsing them. He never endorses,” said Rey Vargas, head of El Shaddai’s education, training and deployment ministry.

Vargas said Binay and Marcos got the highest votes from El Shaddai members during the mock polls held last Saturday so the two candidates get the religious group’s support.

Vargas’ statement was echoed by Mel Robles, president of Buhay party list.

He said Velarde decided to respect the consensus of the majority.

“Just like in previous elections, Bro. Mike would not be endorsing any candidate but he allowed the release of the result of the mock polls to preserve the unity of the community,” said Robles.

“Bro. Mike also let the decision of the majority prevail for those who are asking for guidance. There are others from the provinces who are asking for guidance. The results will speak for itself,” he said.

The group initially released sample ballots bearing the names of Binay, along with the four other presidentiables—Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Sen. Grace Poe and former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas.

On the slot allotted for vice president, only the name of Marcos was written.

“That’s because he got unanimous votes, about 95 percent,” said Willy Villarama, political adviser of Velarde and former secretary-general of Buhay, the party-list group founded by the influential leader.

Villarama said members were initially divided as to who they want to become president as all five bets each got votes.

But Vargas said that among the five, Binay got about 70 to 75 percent of the votes during mock polls.

He said they released a new sample ballot yesterday with the oval beside Binay and Marcos’ name already shaded.

“That’s the decision of the members, to support Binay-Marcos,” said Vargas.

Velarde is expected to read the names of the candidates on the sample ballot during the groups’ prayer vigil today.

In the sample ballot, the names of 12 senatorial candidates were listed.

They are: former Interior Secretary Rafael Alunan III, former Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Valenzuela Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian, Sen. Teofisto Guingona III, Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao, former Sen. Francis Pangilinan, Sen. Ralph Recto, Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo, former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chair Francis Tolentino, former Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Director General Joel Villanueva, and former Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri.

Buhay party list was also included in the sample ballot.