MANILA – The Catholic charismatic group El Shaddai endorsed 14 senatorial candidates, majority from Davao City mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio’s Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) party, for the 2019 midterm elections.
El Shaddai leader Bro. Mike Velarde on Saturday said the senatorial bets were chosen based on their closeness to the group even without the elections.
“‘Yung lumapit sa ‘min sa lahat ng panahon hindi lang panahon ng eleksyon,” said Velarde. “They have answers to the country’s problems, such as poverty, drugs, and jobs – among others.”
Velarde said despite their endorsement, they will leave it to their members to follow or not.
Among those endorsed by El Shaddai were HNP-supported Cynthia Villar, Christopher “Bong” Go, Ronald dela Rosa, Imee Marcos, Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel, Francis Tolentino, Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Jinggoy Estrada and JV Ejercito.
The Catholic group gave its support on independent senatorial bets Grace Poe, Nancy Binay and Dr. Willie Ong.
Benigno “Bam” Aquino III was the lone senatorial bet from “Otso Diretso” endorsed by Velarde.
The El Shaddai, a religious Catholic group believed to have around eight million members, was one of the religious groups being pursued by candidates for endorsement. /PN
