MANILA - Followers of El Shaddai Catholic Charismatic movement are divided on whether or not to support the presidential bid of their leader, Bro. Mike Velarde.
Velarde admitted that his 2010 political plans is one issue that somehow rocks the unity of his followers due to their varied perceptions about him leaving the pulpit to politics.
The situation in a way, he said, made him dilly-dally whether to pursue or not his "childhood dream" to become a president.
He said there is now a 50/50 percent chance of him running in the 2010 presidential elections since he is still consulting their members about it.
"I'm still in the process of consulting them. We'll see at the end what their decision is," he said. "So far the response is 50/50," said Velarde.
Aside from the response of his followers, the religious leader said he is also considering the opinion of his family.
"My family doesn't want me to enter politics. Those are the factors that will bear weight on my final decision at the last hour," he said.
Velarde is just one of at least three religious leaders planning to run for the government's highest position.
Recently, Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio eyed the most influential position in the land, saying he is ready to taking up the challenge.
The priest-turned politician said he is still in the "period of discernment" and has taken steps to draw support from various stakeholders.
Bro. Eddie Villanueva of the Jesus Is Lord (JIL) Movement also vowed to lead the nation in working for a miracle: a corruption-free government.
He earlier promised to lead the nation to a "genuine change". Villanueva announced his political plans for 2010 last Aug. 21.
Velarde, meantime, said that should his followers decide not to allow him to run they'll just choose who among the presidential candidates they'll support.
"We'll choose who among the candidates in 2010 is worthy," he said.
"It should be a leader who can pull us together and a leader who can really bring the change we are looking forward after 2010," added Velarde.
He then urged their more than 7 million members not only to exercise their right to vote in 2010 but also vote according to their conscience.
"Vote according to your conscience. Examine the background of the candidate, their integrity, even the words they're going to utter because words are powerful. You will know a person from the words he speaks," Velarde said.
A religious leader entering the political arena is not something new. In 1935, Fr. Gregorio Aglipay ran for president but lost to Manuel L. Quezon. He was the founder of the Iglesia Filipina Indepediente. (Roy Lagarde)