Independents launch their Senate bids: Villanueva, Hagedorn, Montaño, De los Reyes and Alcantara

MALOLOS CITY—Bro. Eddie Villanueva, the head of the Jesus Is Lord church, yesterday launched his campaign for a Senate seat in the May midterm elections, vowing to be the “voice of the saguiguilid,” or the country’s marginalized sectors.

During a rally at the Bulacan provincial capitol gymnasium, the 66-year-old Bocaue native urged his fellow Bulakeños to support his Bangon Pilipinas Party’s platform, “one that is centered on inclusive growth.”

This, he asserted, “will benefit the country’s underserved, underrepresented and poor sectors.”

“If elected, I will make sure the country’s saguiguilid and Bulacan folk will not be left out of the country’s economic achievements,” Villanueva told the crowd of 2,500 that included Gov. Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado, former governors, congress- men and mayors.

“It’s a first in the history of Bulacan... They crossed party lines just to support my senatorial bid... All for one, one for all,” Villanueva said.

“The whole nation must work as a team imbued with a strength of purpose and ready to forego petty advantages in favor of larger, longer range national goals,” he added.

Later in the day, Villanueva was scheduled to launch an online campaign, conceptualized by youth leaders of his church to spread the word about his platform and advocacy.

Villanueva made an unsuccessful run for the presidency in 2004 and 2010. His son, Joel Villanueva, who heads the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, was told by President Aquino to drop out of the Senate race.