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JOHANNA CAMILLE L. SISANTE, GMANews.TV 09/03/2009 | 04:35 PM
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Evangelist Bro. Eddie Villanueva of the Jesus is Lord (JIL) movement has no plans of dropping his renewed quest for the presidency to support Senator Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III.

In a statement released Thursday, Villanueva said he would stay in the presidential race as Bangon Pilipinas’ standard bearer.

"Bangon Pilipinas respects the decision of Senator Mar Roxas to give way to his fellow Liberal to take on the torch of the party’s leadership for the 2010 elections. But the Liberal Party’s move does not influence Bangon Pilipinas’ own plans," he said.

Villanueva ran and lost during the 2004 presidential polls, placing fifth and last in the race.

Roxas on Tuesday announced that he is abandoning his presidential bid in the 2010 national elections to support Aquino.

Aquino, however, has yet to make a categorical statement on his political plans for 2010, saying Wednesday that he will embark on a spiritual retreat over the weekend to finalize his decision.

Villanueva said the change in the political landscape brought about by Aquino’s expected entry into the presidential race made his party "more challenged" to push for a platform "grounded on genuine love for God and country."

"All parties offering a platform most responsive to the pressing needs of the country should be able to go through the electoral process by presenting such platform to the Filipino people, participating in debates on issues, going to the campaign trail, and ultimately, allowing the people to choose the best candidate based on the dictates of their conscience. This is the reason why we cannot and should not withdraw from the race," he said.

Following Roxas' announcement, priest-turned-Pampanga Governor Eddie Panlilio said he is willing to drop his own presidential bid for Aquino pending consultations with his supporters.

Lito Anzures, spokesman of Makati City Mayor and United Opposition president Jejomar Binay, said the mayor might also forgo his possible bid for the presidency to rally the opposition around Aquino.

Earlier, opposition senator Panfilo Lacson said former President Joseph Estrada--who said he is 99.9 percent certain of seeking the presidency again--should back out of the presidential race to unify the opposition. Lacson also said he is willing to express support for Aquino's possible presidential bid. - GMANews.TV