Religious group JIL making senatorial endorsement soon — Villanueva

Jesus Is Lord founder Eddie Villanueva. Inquirer file photo/Richard Reyes

MANILA, Philippines — Religious group Jesus is Lord (JIL) Worldwide will be endorsing senatorial candidates within the week.

Sen. Joel Villanueva, devout Christian and son of JIL founder Eddie Villanueva, disclosed the matter during the Kapihan sa Senafo forum on Tuesday.

“There is a search committee and their meetings are ongoing. I was invited several times — I think for three times now and their deliberations are ongoing. So I’d just leave it to them — to the search committee,” the younger Villanueva said in Filipino.

“I have to say that based on discussions, they are open to endorse twelve or not. I think they will announce it in the next two to three days. I’m not sure if it’s complete” he added later on.

The senator said he had advised the committee to “consider reelectionists” because they are already “sitting senators.”

Which candidates to avoid

Despite this he insisted that JIL does not encourage bloc voting. According to Villanueva, what they are doing is to only endorse.

“We feel that’s your personal right, but it’s important to guide members and that’s my duty as a member of JIL — to shed light on their questions,” said Villanueva.

As for his job, the senator said he was tasked by the committee to help direct them to the right path.

“That’s my job, to tell them to avoid candidates that will not contribute anything,” he said.

But in the pool of returning senatorial candidates, Villanueva said his personal choice include former Senators Tito Sotto, Panfilo Lacson, Francis Pangilinan, and Bam Aquino.

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