Villanueva jons Senate race
Files papers after Virgines withdrew his nomination
Manila: Bro. Eddie Villanueva, leader of the Jesus Is Lord (JIL), filed papers for Senate race in 2013 after Israel Virgines withdrew his candidacy.
Villanueva, who unsuccessfuly ran twice for presidential race, substituted his papers to Commission on Elections (Comelec).
“I almost did not make it. My group thought there was no more time for me to prepare for my campaign. I decided to give way to my son on the last day of the filing of candidacy for the senate (last August), after the Liberal Party asked him earlier to join its senatorial slate,” Villanueva, told Gulf News in a phone interview.
“I am now firming up my campaign strategy,” said Villanueva when he substituted for Bangon’s senatorial candidate.
Pre-election surveys have not included Viullanueva among senatorial candidates who have filed earlier for their respective certificates of candidacy for the 2013 polls. Sources said he could land in pre-poll surveys among the top five ranking senatrial candidates next year.
Earlier, after he gave up running for the senate to give way for his son’s senatorial candidacy, Villanueva told Gulf News in an exclusive interview that his plan was to strengthen an institute for good and moral governance, which he established in his family-owned JIL College Foundation in northern suburban Bulacan. .
“I think that could make me help promote good governance – in an indirect but sure way,” he told Gulf News then.
“There will be another time for politics,” he said then as if he was one hundred percent sure to say goodbye to future plans to push him to campaign for a senate seat.
Former Supreme Court chief justice Reynato Puno was one of the people who convinced him to reconsider running again for public office.
Apart from pushing for laws to strengthen good governance, Villanueva said he would focus on concerns pertaining to some 10 million overseas Filipino workers.
“They need government support as much as government needs them,” said Villanueva.
The OFWs sent $21 billion to their relatives in the Philippines last year. They are predicted to send higher remittances this year, based on first to third quarter record of the Central Bank of the Philippines.
Noting Villanueva’s impact at the congressional mid-term race, Virgines, when he decided to give way, said, “He has winnability,”
“For me, Villanueva is a good senatorial candidate because he is sincere and has righteous principle. We have to vote for him so that our land will be blessed,” said Erlinda Halili, a long time supporter of Villanueva.
“Remember , when the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice, but when wicked man rules, the people groan,” Halili said, quoting a Biblical passage.
“He should win. He has a good idea of what is good for the country,” said poet and supporter Mila Aguilar.
