El Shaddai members are free to choose their own candidates for the May 9 elections, Bro. Mike Velarde said yesterday.
“The choice is yours, not mine. I heed my personal choice,” Velarde said during El Shaddai’s worship service in Parañaque City.
Velarde, who earlier endorsed the tandem of former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, said other candidates will be joining the Catholic charismatic group’s gatherings in the coming weeks.
“Don’t be surprised if we have guest candidates every Saturday. We will welcome everyone who would like to join our activities,” Velarde said.
“When I present them to you, examine their hearts,” he added
El Shaddair’s spiritual adviser Bishop Teodoro Bacani earlier clarified the Catholic charismatic group has not endorsed any presidential and vice presidential candidates for the May 9 polls.
“Let me be very clear: It was not the endorsement of El Shaddai that Bro. Mike extended,” Bacani said in a radio interview.
“That is not El Shaddai—that should be clear. That is Bro. Mike Velarde, who is head of El Shaddai, but it is not the opinion of the body,” he added.
Velarde also endorsed senatorial aspirant Mark Villar, who is part of the Marcos-Duterte slate.
“I thank El Shaddair and Brother Mike Velarde for their support. We in the BBM-Sara UniTeam are one in pushing for unity,” said Villar, a
former Public Works Secretary.