Palace: No solid Catholic vote in May polls

MANILA, Philippines - Reproductive health law advocate Malacañang believes that any threat from the Catholic bishops, who are campaigning openly against most of the administration senatorial candidates, will not make much of a difference since the church has no solid vote in the May elections.

“Obviously, there is no single main position taken by the Catholic hierarchy,” presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said, referring to the separate positions taken by Pangasinan Bishop Soc Villegas and the White Vote group.

Villegas, a protége of the late Jaime Cardinal Sin, has voiced concerns about the church endorsing candidates, considering the separation of church and state.

On the other hand, the White Vote group headed by charismatic leader Mike Velarde of the El Shaddai movement have initially endorsed six candidates.

Velarde’s group is known to be under the influence of the Catholic Church.

Among the candidates endorsed were three each from Team PNoy – Senators Koko Pimentel and Antonio Trillanes and ex-Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar – and from United Nationalist Alliance – Reps. Mitos Magsaysay, JV Ejercito and Sen. Gringo Honasan.

All six candidates voted against the RH law that has been questioned before the Supreme Court.

“You have to look at their different advocacies. It’s their right, if they want to endorse a candidate based on a single issue. But does it better the people that you’re going to elect? That’s a big question if you’re going to focus only on one issue,” Lacierda said.

“Obviously, Pangasinan Bishop Villegas disagrees with the position taken by the White Vote,” he added.

But a month before the elections, Team PNoy senatorial candidates have started to personally seek individual endorsements from influential religious groups in the hope of making it to the Senate.

At least three contenders in the 12-man senatorial ticket have admitted seeking out leaders of religious denominations, among them the solid voting bloc Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), the El Shaddai movement, and the Jesus is Lord (JIL) movement.

The wife of Sen. Manny Villar recently disclosed that she is one of three candidates in the administration coalition who have been endorsed by Velarde.

“I have been included in the list for Team PNoy, along with Senators Pimentel and Trillanes,” Villar said, noting that the selection process was borne out by the fierce debates between pro- and anti-reproductive health lawmakers.

The Villar couple have been members of the Couples for Christ since 1999.

“We have worked with them for a long while so I think they considered that, that we will be supportive of the Church. This is not only about the support of El Shaddai, it’s the support of the parishes of the Catholic Church,” Villar said.

“I think you all know that we are predominantly Catholic, and it’s quite big in number. You know us candidates we will always support any form of support that is extended to us. They’re always welcome,” she added.

Administration candidate Aurora Rep. Sonny Angara also admitted seeking the support of INC and JIL, whose president and founder, Eddie Villanueva, is also a senatorial candidate.

“Aside from the letter I sent them, I also visited some of their local chapels,” Angara said, adding that he also dropped by the place of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.

Another administration candidate, former senator Jamby Madrigal, expressed hopes that the INC will again support her in this year’s elections.

“I’m very hopeful because they helped me in May 2004 when I was elected to the Senate. Hopefully, being a Catholic, they will also support my candidacy,” she told reporters in Mambusao, Capiz.