It looks like El Shaddai leader Brother Mike Velarde isn’t done dropping bombshells. Just this morning in an interview with GMA 7, he revealed that he’s been talking with former President Erap Estrada about his political plans for 2010. In the interview, he revealed that either one of them will run in 2010. If the law doesn’t hinder Erap from running, then Brother Mike will bow out and support Estrada’s candidacy. If Erap is prohibited, then Erap will back up Brother Mike’s campaign instead. Now this is just one of the most insane alliances I’ve ever heard of but it looks like it will push through. This has a lot of implications that can really change the 2010 landscape.
Former President Estrada denied this though and explains that he only sent his son to talk with Brother Mike during his 70th birthday celebration. Ugh. Someone get their story straight before talking to the media.
Here’s the news clip that I’m talking about:
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Here’s the direct quote on text for your perusal in English and in Filipino:
“Eto ire-reveal ko na sa inyo, nag-usap na kami ni Erap, ang usapan kung hindi ka mapipigil, sasabayan kita. Sabi niya bakit, sabi ko para kapag nadisqualify ka, ako ang kandidato mo, eh kung hindi ka madisqualify, ikaw ang kandidato ko, so we shook hands and that’s the deal,” he said.
(I will reveal this to you, Erap and I have already talked, we agreed that if he can’t be stopped, I will also run with him. He asked me why, I said that if he gets disqualified, I will be his candidate, if he doesn’t get disqualified, he will be my candidate, so we shook hands and that’s the deal.)
What I don’t understand here is that Brother Mike said earlier that the primary factor that will influence his decision to run would be the voice of his followers in El Shaddai. It looks like he’s listening to some other voice since he’s already working on alliances this early. I know that Jesus has been preaching forgiveness, but it’s just wrong to see a religious charismatic leader doing shady secret deals with a convicted plunderer. It’s just not right.
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I understand the Not-So-United Opposition has more credible candidates yet he would rather go for a religious leader?
Didn’t the last Presidential Election show that the religious vote is a big fallacy?
Heya Leo,
If there’s anything the opposition needs now – it’s humility. People have to stand down and give way to other candidates so we have a better chance in 2010.
I’m hoping that these religious leaders would heed that call for humility, especially since they preach that a lot in their respective churches.