3 presidential bets woo El Shaddai vote

Three presidential aspirants and their running-mates joined the overnight vigil of the influential religious group El Shaddai, a report in GMA News’ “24 Oras" said on Sunday. Those who attended the Easter Sunday vigil in Parañaque City Liberal Party presidential candidate Sen. Benigno “Noynoy" Aquino III and Sen. Manuel “Mar" II Roxas; Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino candidate Joseph Estrada and Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay; and Nacionalista Party standard-bearer Sen. Manny Villar and Sen. Loren Legarda. The candidates, some of them accompanied by their senatorial bets, were given the opportunity to speak onstage.

Aquino, the leading presidential bet in various surveys, said he attended upon the invitation of El Shaddai leader Bro. Mike Velarde. “Siyempre lahat ng Pilipino nilalapitan ko. Basta sa akin malaking bagay na yun naimbitahan ako dito at naibahagi ko ang aking mga pananaw," he said. (I approach all Filipinos in my campaign. What’s important to me is that I was invited here and I was able to share my views to those present.) Villar, who is reportedly the candidate of choice of Velarde, neither confirmed nor denied that he already has the charismatic leader’s support. “Ang masasabi ko lang hihintayin ko ang pahayg ni Bro. Mike (I will just wait for Bro. Mike’s announcement)," he said. The vigil was attended by thousands of El Shaddai members. Velarde, for his part, said he does not normally endorse a candidate. “Pinakikilala ko lang sila sa mga miyembro ng El Shaddai para ma-survey nila ang bawat isa (I just introduce the candidates to the members of El Shaddai so that they will know them)," he said. - KBK, GMANews.TV