A 1.5-million strong evangelical organization with a mission to “share the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ” has maintained its commitment to support the presidential bid of independent candidate Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson.
Bishop Pat Alfred Hermosilla, head of the Christian Church Fellowship International (CCFI) in the Philippines, wrote Lacson a letter as early as August 1, 2021 to formally express support for his candidacy in tandem with his vice presidential running mate Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III.
“We strongly believe in your good governance and integrity in leading our nation. As such, we are giving you our full support as President of the Republic of the Philippines together with your Vice President, Sen. Tito Sotto, on coming national elections,” Hermosilla told Lacson.
This declaration of support has not wavered despite the challenges that Lacson encountered in his second presidential campaign.
A CCFI pastor is also running as an independent candidate in the race for vice governor of Cavite, the home turf of Lacson.
Pastor Joseph Thim Lasaca Jamboy is seeking the vice governor position in the province to promote free housing, education and medical assistance, generate more jobs, develop the farming and fisheries sectors, and build more infrastructures for the benefit of his fellow Caviteños.
According to the Lacson-Sotto Support Group (LSSG) chapter in Cavite, Jamboy has joined their political cause and would be backing the respective electoral bids of the veteran statesmen. Lacson never lost an election in the province insofar as his past electoral performances are concerned.
CCFI was founded on December 19, 1990 and is a duly recognized religious institution in the Philippines. It is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
The organization has been rendering various ministries across the country for over 30 years now. It has almost 1.5 million members in the Philippines alone.
It currently has 168 churches in the Philippines and has nine international teams in Africa, Australia, Canada, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Thailand and Switzerland, according to Bishop Hermosilla.