‘Command votes crucial for senatorial bets outside Magic 12’

MANILA, Philippines - Team PNoy senatorial candidate and Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara yesterday admitted that command votes of religious groups like Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) are crucial, especially for senatorial bets outside the Magic 12.

“I think the command votes will be crucial in determining the last four or five slots in the Senate given the small margins separating the candidates... We’ve seen in the last few surveys that the candidates at the bottom are statistically tied so each endorsement is important,” Angara said. 

The son of Sen. Edgardo Angara observed that most of the candidates have been going around major political organizations, labor unions, business groups and local politicians in the homestretch of the campaign. 

He also admitted that he sought the endorsement of the INC by sending a letter to the leaders of the religious group to introduce himself and his track record. But he has not received official word about his supposed endorsement. 

“What is clear at this point is that definitely we are seeking the endorsement of the INC and this will mean a lot for the victory of a senatorial candidate and I have no doubt that all 33 of the candidates are seeking the endorsement of the INC,” Angara said. 

Quiboloy endorses bets

Meanwhile, Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, head of religious group The Kingdom of Jesus Christ, The Name Above Every Name, has made his choice of senatorial and local candidates.

In a press conference the other day, Quiboloy said he is set to distribute today to his more than six million followers the sample ballots showing the candidates he is endorsing for the Senate and local positions in each region where his group has satellite churches.

In choosing the bets, the leaders of the group reportedly considered the candidates’ relationship to the group, vision and platform.

He has reportedly endorsed six bets from Team PNoy, five from the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) and one independent candidate.

From Team PNoy, he has endorsed re-electionist Senators Loren Legarda and Francis Escudero, Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino, former Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar, former Movies and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) chair Grace Poe Llamanzares and Angara.

From UNA, he has selected former senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, San Juan Rep. Joseph Victor Ejercito, Cagayan Rep. Jack Enrile, former senator Richard Gordon and Nancy Binay.

Quiboloy also supports the senatorial bid of Palawan City Mayor Edward Hagedorn.

Angara welcomed Quiboloy’s support, saying that the endorsement invigorates him to keep pushing “till the end” his effort to be of service to the public.

Estrada, who earlier was also endorsed by the White Vote Movement, also welcomed Quiboloy’s support.

“The support of Pastor Quiboloy’s group will certainly help me on May 13. I thank Pastor Quiboloy and members of The Kingdom of Jesus Christ,” Estrada said, adding that the support of various groups to his senatorial bid indicates their belief in his platform and capacity to serve the people.

According to surveys, Estrada is among the top 10 senatorial candidates favored by voters. In the final pre-election survey by the Social Weather Stations, he ranked sixth and is considered as one of the candidates “guaranteed to win.” Meanwhile, Angara said he remains confident in the preparations made by the Commission on Elections.

He also urged poll watchdogs Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, the National Movement for Free Elections and other organizations accredited by the poll body to help ensure the success and credibility of the elections on Monday.

“We as citizens have the duty to ensure that our elections are always peaceful and credible but the accredited groups have their work cut out for them and ordinary Filipinos, candidates, political parties and other stakeholders want to see them as complementing in this democratic process,” he said. – With Jose Rodel Clapano, Paolo Romero, Edith Regalado