Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar was one of the 12 senatorial hopefuls whose candidacies were endorsed by the influential religious sect Iglesia ni Cristo (INC).
The INC made the announcement during the “Mata ng Agila” news program over Net 25 on Tuesday night, May 3 or six days before the national and local elections.
UniTeam ticket member Villar thanked the religious group for supporting his bid for a Senate seat in the May 9 polls.
“Taos puso po akong nagpapasalamat sa milyun-milyong kapatiran ng Iglesia ni Cristo sa pangunguna ng kanilang Tagapamahalang Pangkalahatan Kapatid Eduardo V. Manalo. Pinahahalagahan ko po ang suportang ibinigay ninyo sa akin, sisikapin ko po na ang tiwalang pinag kaloob ninyo sa akin ay mag bubunga (I wholeheartedly thank the million-strong congregation of the Iglesia ni Cristo headed by their Tagapamahalang Pangkalahatan Kapatid Eduardo V. Manalo. I value the support that you gave me, I will work to ensure that the trust you gave me would bear fruit)," Villar said.
“Ikinagagalak ko po ang pag endorso sa akin ng Iglesia ni Cristo, nakakataba po ng puso ang pag endorso ninyo sa akin. Asahan niyo po na akin pong ipagpapatuloy ang magandang nasimulan ng 'Build, Build, Build' program upang makapagbigay nang kabuhayan para sa mga manggagawang Pilipino (I am delighted by the Iglesia ni Cristo's endorsement of my bid, it warms my heart. Rest assured that I will continue the good foundation of the 'Build, Build, Build' program in order to give liivelihood to Filipino workers)," he added.
Villar’s main platform, if elected, is the continuation of the incumbent administration’s flagship “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure modernization program.
The INC is known for its practice of "bloc voting", wherein its leadership expects its members to vote for its endorsed candidates.