JIL church bares preferred Senate bets

Jesus Is Lord founder Eddie Villanueva. —Inquirer file photo/Richard Reyes

MANILA, Philippines — Christian megachurch Jesus is Lord Church Worldwide (JILCW) announced on Sunday its initial list of five senatorial candidates whom it will be supporting in the May 12 elections.

The JILCW, founded by evangelist Bro. Eddie Villanueva, in 1978, endorsed incumbent Sen. Pia Cayetano and former Senators Manny Pacquiao, Tito Sotto, Panfilo Lacson, and Francis Pangilinan.

According to JILCW, they are still assessing other candidates to be included in the list, which was based on “a thorough assessment of their positions and a review of their track records.”

The list is being finalized by an executive selection committee composed of JILCW’s eight pastors: Domingo Rivera, Daisy Quiates, Alexander Garcia, Melquiades Asi, Noel Casimpoy, Divinagracia Magallanes, Fernando Jacolbe Jr., and Silver Caballes.

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“Deliberations are ongoing, and a second batch of endorsements will be announced in the coming days,” JILCW said.

Global advisory

“Pastors are instructed to ensure that all our 1,509 chapters across 82 provinces in the Philippines and 70 countries worldwide are completely informed of this endorsement,” JILCW said. JIL currently has 2 to 3 million members in 72 countries.

JILCW founder Villanueva is an incumbent representative of the Cibac party list, which is seeking reelection. His son, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, is halfway through his six-year term.

The younger Villanueva earlier clarified that the JIL “does not encourage bloc voting,” and they were only “endorsing” candidates as a guide to members.

“We feel that it is a personal right, but it is important to guide members, and that’s my duty as a member of JIL—to shed light on their questions,” the senator said.