CIBAC Party-List Representative Eduardo Villanueva (House of Representatives)
Eduardo "Eddie" Villanueva, is a Christian evangelist, professor, and anti-corruption advocate representing the Citizens' Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC) Partylist in the 19th Congress. He also served in the 18th Congress as partylist representative.
CIBAC Partylist is a multisectoral organization representing "law-abiding and God-fearing citizens" seeking an end to corruption. The group, established in 1997, consists of qualified voters united to combat corruption and cronyism within the national government.
It has distributed around 16,000 medical assistance, provided aid to 20,000 beneficiaries of Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged or Displaced Workers (TUPAD), an initiative by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and helped over 3,000 Commission on Higher Education (CHED) scholars, as recorded on the group's website.
Prior to CIBAC's establishment, Villanueva promoted Christian faith and worked as an economics and finance professor in his alma mater, the Philippine College of Commerce (PCC), now known as Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), until 1972. He returned as a part-time professor in 1978 and currently sits as the university's Board of Regents member.
He founded the Jesus Is Lord (JIL) Church in 1978. It began as a bible study group and eventually grew as one of the largest Christian churches in Asia and worldwide, with millions of members nationwide and in over 60 foreign countries, according to JIL's website.
During the 18th Congress, Villanueva was appointed deputy speaker for good governance and moral uprightness. He was one of the principal authors of HB4716, now known as the GMRC and Values Education Law or the Republic Act (RA) 11476, signed into law in June 2020, according to the House of Representatives website.
The group also pushed for measures to alleviate the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on Filipinos nationwide. Villanueva was among the principal authors of HB 6953, now known as the Bayanihan To Recover as One Act (Bayanihan 2 law) or RA 11494; HB 9411 or Bayanihan 3; HB 3219 or an act protecting freelancers; HB 6004 or an act strengthening access to credit of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs); and HB 6660 or an act granting hazard pay to healthcare professionals and workers in critical industries.