This, amid informal surveys he conducted in a gathering of 80 bishops and pastors in Bulacan and 30 students from the University of the Philippines (UP) showing presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte as top choice.
“I was quite surprised by the result because I did not expect religious people to opt for Duterte who is unabashed in his statements on killings and womanizing,” Villarama said in a forum here, as he expressed lament on the lack of biblically- based moral standards in electing public officials.
As congressman in 2002, Villarama, who is secretary general of the Buhay Partylist, was among those who founded the Countryside Development Fund (CDF) Watch or Bantay Pork Barrel, with Malolos Archbishop Rolando Tirona as co-founder.
Villarama said he started only two weeks ago the promotion of La Pera, particularly among people from various faiths, including Catholics, born-again Christians, and Protestants.
“For the group, it is time to develop and strengthen the Power of the Poor to defy the ills of few opportunistic officials who use their position and connection to serve their self-interest. Indeed, it is sensible to organize Lapiang Walang Pera or La Pera,” he said.
At the same time, Villarama shared the results of an informal survey he conducted in an informal gathering of Baptist bishops and pastors in Valenzuela City last Feb. 9.
The survey required 80 respondents to rate the five presidential candidates on the basis on capabilities, experience, concrete platform, character, and known associates, with three being the highest score for each item.
The result showed Duterte with 320 points, Mar Roxas with 318, Miriam Santiago with 286, Grace Poe with 263 and Vice Pres. Jejomar Binay with 248.
Villarama also conducted last Jan. 9 another informal survey using the same questionnaire among 30 students of UP Diliman and Los Banos, showing Duterte also leading with 58 points, Santiago with 56, Poe with 49, Roxas with 45, and Binay with 31.
