Monday, October 06, 2008 Bro. Eddie on 2010 presidental race
EVANGELIST Eddie Villanueva said he is still open to run again for president in the upcoming 2010 elections, but added that this will depend on "Divine Intervention".
In a press conference for the 30th anniversary of the Jesus Is Lord (JIL) movement, Villanueva said he has yet to decide on the matter, as it is still too early to tell.
He although revealed that the presidential race is not attractive to him at the moment.
"The presidency does not have any 'it' to me," Villanueva said. "I am not saying yes or no -- I am always at the disposal of my God. I do hope God will not command me to do (run) so."
In 2004, Villanueva was the standard bearer for the Bangon Pilipinas Movement (BPM). He finished last in that poll race by garnering only 1,988,218 votes. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was proclaimed winner.
Villanueva said that as of the moment, the JIL and BPM are busy strengthening their network and machinery in a bid to push for their advocacy of national transformation.
Asked who will be his possible running mate, the JIL founder said they are looking at Pampanga Governor Eduardo Panlilio to institute genuine reform in the country if he eventually decides to run in the 2010 race.
"The worsening conditions of the Philippines need a genuine reformist president but it would be difficult for Filipinos to elect one unless the people power election in Pampanga could be duplicated nationwide," Villanueva said.
Like Villanueva, Panlilio is a religious leader, being a priest-on-leave, who won in the 2007 gubernatorial race in the Central Luzon province.
Villanueva said only a genuine reformist president can manage to institute genuine change in the "morally-bankrupt" government.
He also said they are not discounting the possibility of supporting other candidates, saying they just need to meet their three requirements -- competence, character, and courage.
According to him, they are looking at the first quarter of 2009 as the tentative period where they would announce their nominee for the National Government positions to be elected come 2010.
Villanueva meanwhile sought the help of the Roman Catholic Church in the JIL's bid to instigate the much-needed transformation in the country.
He said the Catholic Church has been negligent in fulfilling its responsibilities to transform the society.
"'Suffering, injustices and all these unabated' corruption this is because of gross negligence of the Church. The Church has been focusing on evangelism alone and forgetting the other side of the mission, which is transformational ministry," Villanueva added. (MSN/Sunnex)
