Aquino unfazed by El Shaddai’s reported support for Villar

Who will be El Shaddai's chosen one?

El Shaddai leader Mike Velarde may have given hints in Hong Kong two months ago that he supports Sen. Manuel Villar but this has not stopped his rival Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III from attending El Shaddai's Easter service scheduled for later Saturday night.

Aquino, who led Villar by nine points in the last Social Weather Stations survey, was expected to attend and give a speech at the Catholic charismatic group's overnight Easter service in Parañaque, in an apparent bid to secure the support of Velarde and his followers, who reportedly number in the millions.

Velarde said in Hong Kong that he and his flock would know by Easter Sunday whom to vote for in the May 10 presidential election.

"Senator Aquino will be attending the Mass and also give a five-minute talk. The service is expected to last overnight," Edwin Lacierda, Aquino's spokesperson, said on Saturday.

Villar and deposed President Joseph Estrada were also expected to attend the prayer rally with the former scheduled to arrive at 8 p.m. Aquino was expected at 10 p.m.

"Senator Aquino respects our religious leaders and he wants to talk to them. And according to Brother Mike, there was no official (El Shaddai) endorsement (of Villar in Hong Kong)," Lacierda said.

Villar attended an El Shaddai prayer rally in Hong Kong’s Central district in which Velarde gave hints that he favored Villar. Villar was the only presidential candidate invited to that gathering.

"Senator Aquino wants to talk to our religious leaders because he wants their advice. He has already talked to Pastor (Apollo) Quiboloy and he is also talking with Catholic bishops," Lacierda said.

Aquino reportedly met with Velarde even before the Hong Kong prayer rally. Candidates have long sought Velarde's blessings because of the belief that El Shaddai followers vote for the candidates he endorses.

In the Hong Kong rally, Velarde said that El Shaddai "does not endorse" candidates but added that he expected El Shaddai members to "vote as one" in May.

“For us in El Shaddai during elections, we don’t really endorse. We just vote. So, you have promised God we are going to vote as one this election… we are going to examine all the candidates for president and vice president," Velarde told his followers.

Velarde said during the same gathering that the group would make up its mind on whom to vote for by Easter Sunday.

“We will still evaluate the candidates. We should check their background if they are capable and have already complied something,” he said in February.“But without favoring anybody, we know that our guest today (Villar) has a heart for (Filipinos) in other countries. He is approachable…(but) we will choose until Easter Sunday. By that time, I will know and all of us will know (whom to vote for). Maybe those of you here in Hong Kong already know.”

Many in that crowd wore orange and white clothes, the campaign colors of Villar and his running-mate, Senator Loren Legarda.

Velarde and Villar have been friends because both were active in the real estate business. Villar said he has known Velarde from even before he founded El Shaddai.

On the other hand, Lacierda emphasized that Aquino's presence at the Easter service was "not campaigning" because he was just joining his fellow Catholics in celebrating Easter.

"This is not campaigning. The senator also wants to be with his fellow Filipinos in this Easter vigil," Lacierda said.