Votes for ‘Eddie Villanueva’ to go to Bro. Eddie

Presidential candidate and evangelist Eduardo Villanueva won a major victory when the Commission on Elections (Comelec) ruled yesterday that all votes for "Eddie Villanueva" shall be counted for him and will no longer be thrown out as "stray votes."

Self-proclaimed billionaire Eddie Gil, another presidential candidate, registered "Eddie" in his certificate of candidacy, while Villanueva indicated "Bro. Eddie" as his nickname.

Under Comelec rules, a combination of the first name and last name of any candidates are considered stray votes and should not be counted.

"A vote for ‘Eddie Villanueva’ is obviously a vote for ‘Bro. Eddie.’ The voter could not be thinking of anybody else," Comelec Chairman Benjamin Abalos said.

The Comelec’s decision will be reflected in a set of general instructions for the Board of Election Inspectors prior to the May elections.

Early yesterday, Villanueva’s lawyer advised his supporters not to write the names "Eddie" and "Eddie Villanueva" on their ballots to prevent their votes from being thrown out.

Jordan Pizarras said those who plan to vote for Villanueva should write one of the following entries, which they have registered at the Comelec: "Bro. Eddie," "Bro. Eddie Villanueva," "Villanueva," or "Eduardo Villanueva."

He said although the Comelec has yet to decide on their motion to disqualify Gil from the presidential race, the public must be warned as early as possible against making a mistake in entering their votes.

Pizarras also filed a petition asking the Comelec to drop Gil’s Isang Bansa, Isang Diwa party from the list of recognized political parties.

"If Comelec denies our motions, then the ballot entry ‘Eddie’ would be considered stray," he said.

Pizarras also said that though he and other lawyers have questioned the statements made by two Comelec lawyers that the entry "Eddie Villanueva" will be considered a stray vote, Villanueva’s supporters should not write this name on their ballot.

"Common sense would tell us that the entry ‘Eddie Villanueva’ is identified with Bro. Eddie," said Pizarras, who filed the two motions last Jan. 20.

Villanueva’s lawyers filed another motion with the Comelec last Feb. 16, this time asking the poll body to immediately resolve their two earlier petitions.

Pizarras pointed out that voters would not be confused with these "technicalities" if the poll body disqualifies Gil, saying the businessman has neither any real intention nor the capability to run for president and that his candidacy was meant to confuse voters and mock the elections.

He noted that Gil, despite writing "stupid answers" on his certificate of candidacy, was proclaimed an official candidate.

Gil wrote the word "Filipino" in the blank indicated for the candidate’s gender, Pizarras said.

"He also wrote ‘businessmen’ as his profession, and the married name of his wife instead of her maiden name, as required," he added.

The Comelec ordered Gil to submit a joint memorandum on Jan. 23 to answer the two petitions but "up to now, no progress has been made on the case," Pizarras said.

He alleged that the poll body has been "using tools to derail the campaign of Bro. Eddie," who earlier said he expects to garner at least seven million votes in the May presidential election.

Villanueva said his Jesus is Lord movement has around three million members nationwide.

Pizarras earlier called for the relief of two Comelec lawyers, identified only by their surnames Valesa and Corpus, both from the office of Commissioner Florentino Tuason.

Pizarras said the two lawyers deliberately violated election laws during a training seminar for absentee voters at the Department of Foreign Affairs two weeks ago.

"Trainees in the seminar told us they were taught to consider the entry ‘Eddie Villanueva’ as stray votes because it seemed to be a combination of the first name and last name of two presidential candidates," Pizarras said.

Pizarras explained that only the Board of Election Inspectors has the power to appreciate the ballots cast. He added that he considers the acts of the two Comelec lawyers as "highly anomalous and open to the charge of being partisan, malicious and intended solely to mislead the public."

Pizarras said Valesa and Corpus "must be immediately dealt with according to law, relieved from their duties and be charged administratively."

He also urged election inspectors to clarify the issue as soon as possible to prevent confusion and the waste of votes during the May elections.