Bro. Mike dreams of presidency

Is charismatic El Shaddai leader Mariano “Bro. Mike” Velarde inclined to run in the 2010 presidential elections?

Velarde on Saturday night admitted to The STAR that it is his dream to become the country’s president.

“There is a time for everything. I will cross the bridge when it comes. I am not saying now that I will or I will not, but it depends on the circumstances, kung kalooban ng Diyos yun, di natin mapipigil yan.”

In the past, Velarde had often brushed aside questions about his entering politics, saying “that was not my line, that was just a dream for me to become president. The Lord gave me another assignment and that is why I am here.”

By “here,” Velarde was referring to his position as the founder and servant leader of the charismatic group El Shaddai Prayer Partners Foundation, whose membership has grown to between 10 and 15 million, 24 years after it was formed.

El Shaddai has also become one of the most influential religious groups in the country today. 

“On second thought, we really don’t know what is God’s plan for us,” Velarde said.

Asked what would make him run for president, he said he would have to get the approval of his members.

He also did not want to use the word “run” since it implied that he only has a chance in becoming the next chief executive. What he wants is an assurance that he would win.

“In other words, do not enter (politics) if you would only lose. I would have first to make sure that I have the numbers.”

He should also get the support of the other presidential candidates. “We should also talk to them and convince them to just be my vice president.”

If he does decide to run for president and win, he does not intend to finish the six-year term. He said he only needs half the term and for everyone’s cooperation to solve the problems of the country. He would pass the remaining three years to the vice president.

In a recent television interview, Velarde joked about going in tandem with Senate President Manuel Villar.

He said that the two first letters of their surname if joined together would produce the letter “W,” meaning Velarde-Villar is a winning team.

But he clarified that he could choose another running mate, other than the Senate president.

No to RH bill

During last Saturday’s grand fellowship at Amvel City in Parañaque City, he dedicated his healing message to attack the Reproductive Health (RH) bill. In between his speech, he sounded off his desire to join politics. “Marunong ako magalit. Pag ako nagalit, mag presidente ako.”

He also said that to express their strong objection to the RH bill, his group would stage a protest march to the streets and Malacañang.

In jest, he said, “If God wants me to be president, we will just march.”

He said that military colonels would not block their path since he would promote them to the rank of general, “while the generals would not stop us because they are afraid of their wives, and besides, their wives would be joining the demonstration.”

He said that the charismatic group El Shaddai Prayer Partners Foundation, through its three Buhay party-list representatives, has also been helping in the campaign against the RH bill.

The House of Representatives started the plenary debates on the bill last week.

As of the moment, no deadline has been set for the legislators to disregard the bill, widely believed by the Catholic Church to promote the use of contraceptives and abortion in the country.

“I am still assessing the situation if they would really not listen to our appeal.”

To the multitude of El Shaddai members who attended the gathering, he said, “Who would go with me... We would do this. I know the President (Arroyo) has influence over these congressmen and I plead with her to do so, set this bill aside.”

He also believes that through the power of prayer, the proponents and supporters of the bill would not succeed.

Velarde later told The STAR that he had previously discussed the matter with the President and would again tackle the issue with her the next time they meet.

He would inform Mrs. Arroyo that Congress should not focus on the RH bill because this would not bring immediate results and that it goes against the teachings of the Catholic Church.

He would also like to talk to Speaker Prospero Nograles since there are speculations that he is backing the proposal.

He wondered why Congress was pushing for the passage of the bill when in fact contraceptives, such as condoms and pills, are readily available in the market.

He suspected that a provision in the proposed law on the P3-billion funding to be allocated in purchasing the contraceptive pills has captured the interest of the congressmen.

“I wonder what their agenda is for supporting the contraceptive pills. I am just asking, how much is the commission?”