El Shaddai leader Bro. Mike Velarde has yet to endorse the candidacy of Nacionalista Party standard bearer Sen. Manuel ‘Manny” Villar or any particular candidate for that matter.

Many were expecting to hear Velarde to formally endorse the candidacy of Villar during El Shaddai’s overnight Easter vigil at Amvel Park in Parañaque City Saturday but the announcement did not come.

Velarde said he is not yet endorsing any particular candidate saying he’s still in the process of evaluating all the candidates.

“Personally, I’m still studying everybody. These are new candidates,” he said.
The charismatic leader, however, admitted knowing Villar longer than any of the nine presidential candidates.

“We’ve known each other for so long but it doesn’t mean that I’m already endorsing him. But of course he has the advantage because I know him personally,” said Velarde.

He also stressed that his members are free to choose whoever they want to vote for in the May 10 polls since he doesn’t really impose his personal choice on them.

But at this point, Velarde said, everybody has an equal chance.

“The playing field is still fair. Everybody has a chance there’s still a long way to go,” he said.

“I even tell the candidates who go here that El Shaddai is an open country as of today. No candidate can ever claim that they already have our group. No way! You have to prove to us up to the last hour that you are worthy of our trust,” added Velarde.

At least three presidential candidates attended the El Shaddai gathering namely; Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III of the Liberal Party, former president Joseph “Erap” Estrada of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino and Villar.

The said candidates were all given a chance by Velarde to talk to the crowd and personally introduce themselves.

But among the three it was Villar who probably drew the most cheers from the crowd although he was the last to appear onstage.

An El Shaddai member said this was probably because many seem to favor Villar even calling him “Villarde.”

Still, the three presidential candidates remain hopeful that they’ll get Velarde’s “blessing”.

“Bro. Mike helped me when I ran for senator…that is why I come here today to ask for guidance and again be given a chance to serve the country as president,” Aquino said in his speech.

Villar, on the other hand, accepted Velarde’s decision not to endorse anybody yet.

“That’s okay with me. I’ll just focus on my work…but I’m personally convinced that in the end he’ll choose (me),” he said.

Velarde is set to announce his decision a week before the elections.

Aquino, Estrada, and Villar were joined by their running mates Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas, Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay and Sen. Loren Legarda including some of their senatorial candidates at the Easter Sunday rites.