By ROGER M. BALANZA

Mike Velarde, spiritual leader of El Shaddai, endorsed the May 9 election bids of former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr for president and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte for vice president, without the consent of other leaders of the Catholc charismatic group, a Catholic bishop said.

This is very wrong, said Bishop Teodoro Bacani, spiritual adviser of the charismatic group.

He disowned Velarde’s endorsement of the tandem who are running under the UniTeam banner.

In an interview over Church-ran station Radyo Veritas on Monday, February 1, Bishop Bacani said: “Hindi ko masasang-ayunan ang pag-endorsong ito sapagkat sa palagay ko ay maling mali.”

The outspoken bishop also did not hide his dislike for Bongbong, son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr., running for president.

“Kung merong hindi dapat iboto para presidente, ito ay si Bongbong Marcos,” he said.

Velarde endorsed the BBM-Sara UniTeam during an El Shaddai event at its International House of Prayer in Amvel, Parañaque City on Feb. 12.

In the Radyo Veritas program, Bacani urged Catholics not to vote for Bongbong, citing the widespread corruption of his father, during martial law.

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