JIL's Bro. Eddie Villanueva replaces Virgines as Bangon Pilipinas senatorial bet

(Updated 2:48 p.m.) Jesus is Lord founder Bro. Eddie Villanueva, who twice sought the presidency in the past, has taken the place of Bangon Pilipinas party-mate Israel Virgines to run as the 33rd senatorial candidate in next year's midterm polls. 

 

Villanueva went to the Commission on Elections in Intramuros, Manila (Comelec) Thursday afternoon to file his certificate of candidacy (COC) and certificate of nomination and acceptance (CONA). Earlier in the day, Virgines withdrew his senatorial candidacy.

 

A former election lawyer himself, Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. said it is common practice in politics to find a substitute so the candidate can have more time to prepare.

 

“It’s a common practice. We expect so many withdrawals today [Thursday] and so many substitutions tomorrow [Friday],” Brillantes said.  

 

“We have to give them time. Kasi minsan, very early ang filing ng COCs. So kung minsan hindi pa preparado. So naglalagay muna sila with the intention to substitute,” he added.

 

A defeated presidential candidate in the 2004 and 2010 elections, Villanueva said he did not intend to substitute Virgines, adding that he initially had no intention to join politics again.

 

“Hindi naman actually ganoon ang plan. I believe Virgines filed with sincerity his candidacy. When his application was unanimously approved, the national leadership of Bangon Pilipinas presented to me the clamor to entertain the substitution,” Villanueva said.

 

He added that Virgines himself initiated the substitution.

 

Virgines affirmed this, saying he gave way to Villanueva because he believes the latter is a more capable leader.

 

“At first ang gusto talaga ng party, ako [ang] tumakbo. Pero pinag-aaralan namin ‘yan ‘yung best kung saan tayo magiging kapaki-pakinabang. At saka ‘yung experience ni Brother Eddie. Sayang naman kung hindi natin bibigyan ng pagkakataon,” Virgines said. 

 

Virgines was late in filing his COC early October due to traffic. Brillantes had said the commissioners voted unanimously to accept Virgines’ COC because he is capable of launching a nationwide campaign.

 

Late-filer Virgines said he was approved because the Comelec found traffic an "excusable negligence." 

 

Villanueva’s son Joel, who currently heads the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), was originally Bangon Pilipinas’ senatorial bet. Villanueva said the party opted for the father instead.

 

Joel Villanueva is the founder of Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption, an accredited party-list affiliated with the JIL movement. Cibac Rep. Sherwin Tugna is the JIL founder’s son-in-law.

 

Comelec allows substitutes belonging to the same party until Dec. 21 [Friday]. 

 

The only exceptions are substitutes for a deceased or disqualified candidate, where the commission has allowed the filing of COCs up to the mid-day of election day. In these cases, Comelec only allows substitutes having the same surname as the candidate. — RSJ, GMA News