Catholic Bishop blasts religious charismatic group El Shaddai for supporting thieves, murderers in Senate race 

Photo: NASSA/Caritas Philippines website.
Photo: NASSA/Caritas Philippines website.

A high-ranking Catholic Bishop has spoken out against the religious charismatic group El Shaddai’s controversial decision to support senatorial candidates he described as thieves and murderers.

In a statement shared on Facebook earlier today, Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo called on lay members of the church to speak out and endorse honest candidates. The statement was published yesterday, a day after Mike Velarde, the leader of the Catholic charismatic movement El Shaddai, announced a list of senators they are supporting.

Out of the 14 candidates they are endorsing, 10 are bets of President Rodrigo Duterte. This includes controversial politicians like Imee Marcos, the daughter of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos; Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and Jinggoy Estrada, who have been accused of stealing taxpayer’s money; and Ronald “Bato” De la Rosa, the former police chief who launched the deadly drug war.

Pabillo, who is the head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ Episcopal Commission on the Laity, said that if Velarde can endorse such people, it is laypeople’s responsibility to rally behind honest candidates.

“If Mike Velarde can brazenly come out with a list endorsing magnanakaw (thieves), mamamatay tao (murderers), and dishonest people, should not our lay leaders and lay groups do at least the same — endorsing names but of honest people?” his statement reads.

“The ball is on your court. Should we play ball or just let them take control of the game because they are more enterprising?”

El Shaddai is the biggest Catholic charismatic movement in the Philippines with about 8 million members. It is believed that those part of the group vote the same candidates based on who their leader decides to endorse, which is why it’s very influential during elections.

In a longer statement, Pabillo spoke about the temptation that comes with power and the importance of keeping politicians in check.

“Power is intoxicating. It is insatiable. Once one has it, one wants to have more of it. For this reason, power has to be controlled. This is especially true of power over people,” Pabillo said, before highlighting the importance of checks and balances in the government.

He also said that the administration today is allegedly trying to take control of the branches of government and other institutions like the press in order to limit these checks and balances.

“In this time the Senate is still showing its independence. But for how long? This coming election is crucial. If we are able to elect independent-minded people who are courageous and truthful in serving the country, we have a fair chance of preserving democracy in the land,” he said.

“If not, then we fall into de facto control of the President who is bent on exercising power without any control and who is very sensitive to criticisms.”

Pabillo ended the statement by urging people to “vote for an independent Senate!”

In March, Pabillo expressed support for a list of 10 candidates the People’s Choice Movement, a group of lay leaders, decided to endorse. This includes all eight candidates from the opposition Liberal Party’s slate.



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