Bro. Eddie sees self as defense chief

By Abigail KwokINQUIRER.netFirst Posted 09:56:00 08/03/2009Filed Under: Politics, Elections, Eleksyon 2010

MANILA, Philippines—Citing the need to “overhaul” the Armed Forces and to directly put an end to the issue of extrajudicial killings and human rights violations, presidential wannabe Brother Eddie Villanueva said he would temporarily assume the post of defense chief should he win in the 2010 elections.Speaking to reporters and editors of Bandera, Villanueva said that should become president, he would take on the crucial role of defense chief and use his authority to put an end to corruption in his first 100 days as president.“This is my plan: I would postpone the appointment of Secretary of National Defense. If ever the Lord and the Filipino people would allow me to be the next tenant of Malacanang, I will first act as SND because I have to overhaul, to put order in the department because we need a no-nonsense Armed Forces in demolishing and destroying the apparatus of corruption and all forms of injustices,” he said.Although he has yet to formally throw his hat in the ring, he said he was “seriously considering” running again.Villanueva ran in the 2004 presidential elections but lost to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.Should he win as president, he said a “special committee on truth and justice” would be created to solve the lingering problems of extrajudicial killings and human rights violations.The founder of the Jesus is Lord Movement said he was confident he would solve both problems in his first 100 days. “In 100 days, I believe, I can put these people in jail and I know how,” Villanueva said, citing the need to “maximize the full force of the law based on truth, justice, and righteousness.”Under the Bangon ng Pilipinas Movement, he said he would push for good governance using his background as a political economist. If he wins as president, Villanueva said he would have academicians and scholars dominate his Cabinet. He said the selection of his Cabinet members will be done based on merits and not on political affiliation.“So I’d have a long list. Mamimili ang select committee based on their resume, qualifications. Search committee yun. Yun ang matagal ko ng policy since 2004. To me, what is important is that the right people are in the right place,” Villanueva said.He said that one of the plans of the movement was for a “genuine national reconciliation policy that is anchored on justice tempered with mercy.”“A genuine righteous leadership will be experienced by the Filipino, which is something they haven’t experienced before,” Villanueva said.He added that there are two scenarios that can happen after the 2010 elections: first a civil war that can be a result of the massive electoral fraud, which allegedly happened in the 2004 presidential elections.“Or traditional politics will dominate and these traditional politicians will appease the clamor of the people for change. It will take another two decades for the country to experience the scenario being experienced now,” Villanueva said.