Of Panlilio, Villanueva, and Velarde

For me, I think it's fine if they choose to run as long as they are sincere to serve and they are willing to step down from their posts as religious leaders. Furthermore, they should not force their members to vote for them. Leading a nation does not discriminate religion, but the leaderships skills is highly required. However, we should also remember that religion is also separating us and sometimes lead to killings. I just hope that voters are really smarter this time. Thanks!

If you really want my opinion, I'd say screw it..just like Eddie, they're just PAng-gulo there, that's my view. it's no joke running into the office like that. even Noynoy refused the offer of Presidency, how can this people do the job. i bet if Villanueva and Villarde might promote their religion if either of tehm wins the election. I'd rather have those people already in the Politics..even though i have still doubts too.

Yeah I am on the same vibes on you on that. I guess they should really look at their mission in life. It seems that they are now deluded by what their purpose in life is. Serving in politics is a very different reality than the spiritual. Jesus back in his time never joined any political move against the current events of that time. He continued to preach what is supposed to be taught and just let politics do its own thing during his time. These so called spiritual leaders must then choose as to which side he would do better serving his fellow men.

i'll be the first to admit that i voted for eddie villanueva during the last presidential election. i just got tired of the usual politicians trying to swindle our fellow countrymen with promises of good life and a better future. i did not and up to this time do not regret voting for him even though he didn't win. will i vote for him again? i sincerely do not know as i would like to look at the roster of candidates running for president in next year's elections. i'm sure that not all who have given their intentions to run for president will still be available next year. some of them are serious in their intentions, others are trying to gauge their chances by sending feelers this early, and others are simply trying to get their fifteen minutes of fame. of the three religious leaders that you pointed out, it's villanueva that actually has the machinery to push through with his intended plan. sure, panlilio is an incumbent official but he doesn't have the machinery nor the political support of a major party to be president. mike velarde can count on the support of el shaddai but i doubt if that alone is enough for him to be president. i'm not saying that villanueva is the best among the three, he is the one with the most experience after going through the same thing a couple of years ago. if we were to believe his claims, his political party has gotten better and i'm sure they will apply what they learned during the last presidential elections. about your point on religious leaders running for president or for any elected post on that matter, i respect you, but in the end the people will decide if they want a person of cloth to lead the country out of its present state of misery.

I think the separation of church and state is gone. Now, we have leaders of various religious organizations wanting to run as the highest official of this land. It really sucks. I do not have anything against them, it is just that followers of such congregation is no way similar to the number of the country's population. I do not want anymore to rationalize what is happening in our country. Everybody seems wanting to become president of the country. Better to focus their attention on their congregation rather than diverting their duties to a more serious one like the presidency.

What I can say is that these religious leaders will never win in the elections simply because what they are showing is their personal agendas (to obtain more power and not contented to be just leaders in their religious groups) to be enforced and it is not always the common good of the people. I hope that the Filipino voters are now wise enough to choose someone who is not only aspiring the presidency but will not bring concrete solutions to the problems of the country.