El Shaddai leader backed on electoral endorsement

Manila, Philippines --- Retired Novaliches Bishop Teodoro Bacani said as a lay leader, El Shaddai leader Bro. Mike Velarde has the right to endorse candidates in the May 13 polls.
Bacani, El Shaddai’s spiritual director, cited the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines which states that lay people in responsible position are urged to get elected those who are worthy candidates.
“That’s endorsement. They should work to get elected those candidates they deem worthy,” he said in an interview after presiding a Mass for El Shaddai and other members of the White Vote Movement in Parañaque, on Saturday.
In his homily, Bacani also stressed this point.
“Si Bro. Mike, pwedeng sumigaw. Karapatan niya yan. Karapatan yan ng mga laiko. Karapatan nila na hanapin ang tinig ni Kristo at maging mikropono sila at loud speaker ng kanilang naririnig,” he said.
During the said gathering, Velarde, the spokesman of the White Vote Movement, endorsed six senatorial candidates of Team Buhay, namely: Rep. JV Ejercito, Sen. Gringo Honasan, Rep. Mitos Magsaysay, Sen. Koko Pimentel, Sen. Antonio Trillanes, and Cynthia Villar, all of whom are against the reproductive health (RH) law.
The endorsement comes after Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas came out with a pastoral letter, wherein he said that bishops, priests, and lay people should not endorse candidates since they will just come out as losers even if their candidates win in the elections.
Instead, the Lingayen-Dagupan archbishop said the Catholic Church must be contented with playing its role as conscience, mother, and teacher of the faithful in going about the conduct of elections.
But Bacani said it’s possible that the prelate was just misquoted.
“Maybe Bishop Villegas was misinterpreted because the right of the lay people is very clear. That’s (endorsement) part of their freedom, that’s part of their right,” he said.
For his part, Velarde said he would want to personally explain to Villegas the rationale behind the movement’s endorsement of the candidates.
“I will be in Dagupan tomorrow (Sunday) evening. We have a big rally there… hopefully, (I can meet him) if he is available,” said the El Shaddai leader.
He also insisted that their endorsement is not to force their members to vote for the six candidates but just to serve as a guide in voting.
“After all, this is an answer to the bishops prodding to the lay that we should make the initiative,” said Velarde.
United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) Senate bets, Zambales Rep. Mitos Magsaysay and San Juan Rep. JV Ejercito welcomed El Shaddai’s endorsement, saying that this is “both an honor and a privilege.”
As she faced the multitude of members of the El Shaddai community Saturday, Magsaysay reaffirmed her commitment to protect the sanctity of life and the family.
According to Mitos, her decisions as a member of the Philippine Congress was fueled by her beliefs in life “because I believe that whatever I am today, whatever decisions I make is influenced by being Catholic and my faith in the Lord.”
She also maintained that she would willingly face criticisms and still remain steadfast in her convictions to object the passage of the Reproductive Health Law.
“It does not matter if I would be criticized 10 times or 1,000 times as long as I am doing the will of God,” she explained in a statement.
“For me it is simple. For as long as we follow in the footsteps of the Lord, it is impossible that we would commit a mistake,” she added.
On the other hand, Ejercito said the support of “one of the biggest Catholic organizations in the country” will be a big boost to his senatorial bid. (With a report from JC Bello Ruiz)