Comelec recognizes Bro. Eddie’s group

Presidential candidate Eddie Villanueva’s Bangon Pilipinas (BP) political party was recognized yesterday by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as the television evangelist’s vehicle for the presidency in the May 10 elections.

In a 20-page decision, the Comelec second division ruled that the BP met all the requirements of a political party under the law, and there was no opposition to its accreditation. The decision, written by Commissioner Mehol Sadain and concurred in by Commissioners Ralph Lantion and Florentino Tuason Jr., said there was no evidence linking BP with the Jesus is Lord Church which Villanueva heads as bishop.

"Hence, petitioner’s submissions and supporting documents sufficiently prove its allegations in its petition for registration that the party is not a religious sect," read the decision.

"While at this point, we take note that in some documents submitted by petitioner, referring to the ‘Individual Pledges of Support’ ... there is information as to the membership of the pledgee of support to this particular sect, denomination, or religion.

"We also take note the fact that these are too few, and involve many different sects, denominations or religions, as to preclude a conclusion that the ‘pledgees of support’ and much more remotely, that the general membership belong or adhere to the beliefs of a particular sect, denomination or religion."

The decision to accredit the BP came two days after the 2nd division dismissed a petition to disqualify Villanueva as a presidential candidate.

Several weeks earlier, the Comelec en banc rejected the legal department’s recommendation that Villanueva be disqualified as a presidential candidate on grounds that he does not have a political machinery.

Meanwhile, Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos said yesterday voters will know the results of the senatorial elections within an hour from the closing of voting precincts through satellite transmission results.

"It’s just like watching a boxing match in Madison Square Garden and you will know the result of the senatorial elections in a just a matter of hours," he said during the weekly roundtable discussion at the Manila Pavilion. – Jose Aravilla, Jose Rodel Clapano