A group of Muslim leaders in Mindanao Sunday threw their support behind Bangon Pilipinas Party presidential bet Bro. Eddie Villanueva as he and his partymates continue to court voters in the South.

One of those who manifested his support to Villanueva was Hadji Elme Sanguila, nephew of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) leader Nur Misuari and vice president for Mindanao of the United Muslim Organization.

Sanguila spoke during Villanueva’s rally at the Rizal Park in Davao City last March 9 in which the Muslim leader promised to organized the Bangon Pilipinas party in Mindanao upon instructions of Misuari.

The rally was attended by some 70 of the 129 local candidates of Bangon Pilipinas in Mindanao who are either Muslims, Christians, and Lumads.

They were also joined by Villanueva's vice presidential running mate lawyer Perfecto Yasay, a Cotabato-born Mindanaoan.

“At a time when our land is seemingly cursed by drought caused by El Niño, the refreshing rain that came down on us during the peak of the event is nothing ordinary. It was a clear act of God,” said Bangon Pilipinas Mindanao head of operations Roderick Albolario.

He said the rain could signal what a Villanueva administration could bring to the nation.

Earlier, Villanueva and his senatorial slate met with chieftains of various tribes in Mindanao in a Tribal Summit at Jade Valley Dormitory.

“You have been unjustly neglected by a society that views you as mere cultural spectacle; we will put an end to this,” he told tribal leaders.

He promised that if elected all Filipinos will have equal opportunities to get educated, emancipated, empowered, and get their standard of living elevated.