Bro. Eddie Villanueva today joined the 2013 senatorial race, replacing another candidate earlier fielded by his Bangon Pilipinas party.
Villanueva, 66, went to the Commission on Elections in Intramuros, Manila past noon time accompanied by his wife Dory and thousands of supporters led by former NEDA chief Cielito Habito.
His filing of candidacy came after the withdrawal of senatorial candidate Dr. Israel Virgines, an educator, who was the lone senatorial candidate of Bangon Pilipinas.
“This is a last minute decision. There has been a clamor within Bangon Pilipinas to field a candidate to keep the vision (of seeing a new Philippines) burning,” Villanueva said.
It was former Chief Justice Puno and the Bro. Eddie for Senator Movement (BESMo) who finally convinced Villanueva to join the midterm elections in 2013.BESMo was formed in 2011 to push Villanueva to run. Comelec Resolution No. 9518 provides that there shall be “no substitution due to withdrawal” after Dec. 21, 2012.
