JIL’s Bro. Eddie running for president

Riding on a platform of "righteous government," Brother Eduardo Villanueva of the Jesus is Lord (JIL) Christian group declared for the presidency yesterday and hoped to slay a few giants along the way.

Villanueva, the 57-year-old founder and spiritual director of the JIL fellowship, told reporters that he intends to answer his "call of duty as a patriotic Filipino" as he guns for the highest electoral post in the land next May.

Villanueva made the announcement during the launching of "Bangon Pilipinas National Renewal Movement" at the Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan, with basketball players, singers and the plain faithful among the 300 present.

The movement, which espouses the setting up of a righteous leadership in government, believes that in order to have national renewal and lift the country out of the mire, the principles of justice, truth and righteousness must be instituted in Philippine society.

Asked about his chances of winning against the other candidates, such as against movie star Fernando Poe Jr., Villanueva likened himself to the Biblical David who fought against the giant Goliath.

"I know that David defeated Goliath. God was with David. Besides, I believe in the silent majority," Villanueva said to the cheers of his supporters.

According to Villanueva, his political platform is contained in his so-called masterplan or the "platform for a righteous government" which is still being drawn up by a multisectoral group composed of members of "Task Force Pagbabago" which, according to him, also convinced him to run for the presidency.

"I am still waiting for this multisectoral group to come up with a political machinery. Before the end of this month, they will submit to me the masterplan," he said.

Donita Rose told the crowd that Villanueva is a "man who is after God’s heart."

"Today, we have found a man who is after God’s heart. He is after what every Filipino needs, to save souls. He is a righteous man," she said.

During the launch, Villanueva read a statement in which he stressed his intention to run for the presidency with the fight against corruption and poverty being at the core of his plans.

"We shall take this urgent call for change to all our beloved countrymen from the lowliest farmer and fisherfolk, all the way up to the presidency," he said.

Villanueva’s reading of the statement was punctuated several times by cheers of "Pagbabago" (change) from his supporters in the jampacked ballroom of Club Filipino.

He however said he has yet to formalize his intention to run with the filing of his certificate of candidacy at the Commission on Elections, which he expects to do in the coming days. Neither has he selected a running mate or a senatorial slate.

Villanueva also admitted that several parties, including Lakas, have approached him and asked him to withdraw and accept their invitation for him to join their Senate slate. But he flatly rejected the offers.

"My decision to accept this challenge is not contingent to any political plan. It is a spontaneous call to duty as a patriotic Filipino. Besides, this world is too poor to buy my convictions," he said.

The latest declared presidential candidate gave a sneak peak of what he intends to do if he wins.

He said the first thing he would do as president is issue a proclamation enjoining all Filipinos to thank God for finally having a righteous government.

This is to be followed by another proclamation declaring a "serious war" against poverty and corruption. He also favors federalism as advocated by Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr.

Villanueva was born in Bocaue, Bulacan and has been spiritual leader of JIL for the past 25 years. The movement has almost 7.1 million members in the Philippines alone.

Prior to becoming spiritual director of JIL, Villanueva was a political activist and a professor of economics and finance at the Philippine College of Commerce (now Polytechnic University of the Philippines).

The JIL now has chapters in 33 countries with at least 20,000 members in Hong Kong and 5,000 members in Milan, Italy.