Villar, Loren insist on Bro. Mike's 'blessings'

MANILA, Philippines - If his gestures or orange shirt are any indication, El Shaddai leader Mike Velarde is clearly for Nacionalista Party (NP) standard-bearer Sen. Manuel Villar Jr.

Villar said he arrived at this conclusion when he and his running mate Sen. Loren Legarda attended a prayer rally of the Catholic charismatic group in Hong Kong last Sunday.

“We must remember that this is a Catholic charismatic movement, hindi natin inaasahan ang mga ganyan klaseng (we can’t expect such) endorsement. I think we have to read between the lines,” Villar told editors and columnists of The STAR yesterday.

He said “the message there is very clear,” but one cannot look for a formal statement such as from a political party.

In his speech during the prayer rally, Velarde said only Villar can help the poor, especially the overseas Filipino workers.       

Everyone was in orange shirts and everything Velarde did was clearly a signal, Villar said, adding that he didn’t think Velarde would go up the stage and riase his hand, the usual signal of support.

Told that orange was also President Estrada’s campaign color, Villar said that he was the only presidential candidate who was in the group’s HK rally.

But El Shaddai spokesman Mel Robles said Velarde did not endorse Villar for president.

Robles, who is also the Light Rail Transit Administration head, said that Velarde and Villar have long been friends. 

In a text message, Robles said, “Bro. Mike is not endorsing anybody but admits to being very close to Manny Villar for the longest of time when they were not yet known in politics and in the charismatic movement.”

“He has been an adviser to Villar when he ran for Congress, as (House) Speaker, as senator, and as Senate president because of their friendship,” he said.

“Following tradition, Bro. Mike does not endorse anybody except the Buhay Party-list.”

One of the Buhay Party-list representatives in Congress is Velarde’s son Rene. With Evelyn Macairan and Rudy Santos