Volunteers will boost my bid in Cebu, Bro. Eddie says

CEBU CITY, Philippines - Religious leader Eddie Villanueva on Monday said he is counting on the volunteers of his party, Bangon Pilipinas, to fuel his electoral bid in Cebu, the top vote-rich province that is also perceived to be an administration bailiwick. Villanueva, who already ran for president in the 2004 elections but lost to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, said his party would deploy poll watchers in this province’s precincts to protect his votes. “Before, we did not have watchers. Now we’re counting on them to guard our votes, from the precinct level to the barangay level onward. I ask those with dirty minds not to rape our people’s right to suffrage. Our people are already fed up," Villanueva said in an interview with GMANews.TV. While he did not provide an exact number of volunteers in this province, Villanueva said his party has about 350,000 volunteers nationwide who are not all part of Jesus is Lord, the religious movement he founded. According to official canvass records of the 2004 elections, Villanueva got 43,527 votes (roughly 2.8 percent) of the total 1,536, 482 votes cast in Cebu. President Arroyo was Cebuanos’ top pick, garnering 1,185, 690 votes or 77 percent of the total votes tallied. The results posted a one-million margin between her and her closest opponent, the late actor Fernando Poe Jr. Villanueva likewise claimed his votes in Cebu that elections were stolen. “I had the biggest campaign rally here. With my supporters filling up one-hectare, there was a sea of humanity. When the elections came, nasaan na iyong mga boto [where were the votes?]," Villanueva asked. He likewise said the “Hello Garci" scandal was “a confirmation" that he was a victim of massive election fraud in 2004. The scandal pertains to wiretapped conversations between a woman presumed to be Mrs. Arroyo and a man perceived to be former Elections Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano. The exchanges dealt with reported plans to rig elections that year. Last week, Villanueva claimed the camp of President Arroyo stole his votes during the May 2004 polls, and that he and Poe were the ones neck and neck in the race. Since the wiretapping scandal erupted, Malacañang had repeatedly denied and parried accusations that the President won by cheating. It’s in the volunteers Unfazed that Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia earlier pledged support for administration bet Gilberto Teodoro Jr., Villanueva launched his campaign sorties in Cebu’s public markets to win the hearts of the masses. Earlier in the day, he went to the Lapu-Lapu City public market on Mactan Island. The Bangon Pilipinas Party also interacted with vendors at the Mandaue City market. Later in the day, the convoy will head to the Carbon Market in Cebu City and to the Tabunok Market in Talisay City. Throughout his motorcade in Cebu City, speakers blasted “Eddie Ako," his campaign jingle performed by rapper Gloc-9. Villanueva noted that the volunteers of his party play a key role in his campaign. “Unlike other candidates, we do not pay them to work in this campaign. They are the ones who come up and gather support for us. They shell out money for shirts, pins, and other campaign paraphernalia," Villanueva said. A supporter who declined to be named told GMANews.TV that she paid for the printing of the tarpaulins for Bangon Pilipinas. The vans and cars used in the motorcade were not rented as well. “The volunteers themselves lent them to us," Villanueva said. He added that what was seen in Monday’s campaign sorties is only a microcosm of Bangon Pilipinas’ campaign strategy across the country. “We do not need to spend much because our volunteers, about 350,000 of them, are helping us a lot. In 50 days, we might have a million volunteers already," Villanueva said. - RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV