MANILA, Philippines - The country's top 3 presidential candidates attended the Easter Sunday vigil of the popular Catholic charismatic group El Shaddai, in an effort to win the endorsement of the group's influential leader, Bro. Mike Velarde.

Among those who attended the Easter Sunday vigil in Parañaque were Liberal Party presidential candidate Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III and his runningmate, Mar Roxas; Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino candidate and former president Joseph Estrada and his runningmate, Jejomar Binay; and Nacionalista Party standard-bearer Sen. Manny Villar and his runningmate, Loren Legarda.

Aquino said he attended the vigil upon the invitation of Velarde. He said he had a discussion with Velarde about the Commission on Elections' ongoing plan to automate the elections. He denied, however, discussing Velarde's possible endorsement for his candidacy.

"I don't think its proper. We have not touched on that, current matters lang like automation, time and motion analysis. Basta sa akin malaking bagay na yun naimbitahan ako dito at naibahagi ko ang aking mga pananaw," he said.

In his homily, retired Bishop Teodoro Bacani, Velarde's spiritual adviser, extolled several virtues of Aquino's parents, the late senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. and former president Cory Aquino. The Liberal Party candidate was also applauded several times when he addressed the El Shaddai members.

Estrada, however, got the loudest applause from the El Shaddai's members. In his address, the former president said he has been a regular attender of El Shaddai's yearly Easter vigils.

He also mentioned his close ties with the group, noting that Velarde was his spiritual adviser while he was still president.

"Matagal na akong kilala ni Bro. Mike. Hindi na kailangang kilatisin, may konting advantage kung matagal ka ng kakilala. Wala ng pali-paliwanag. Meron na akong track record," he said.

For his part, Villar also cited his close ties with Velarde, which he said could be the basis of the El Shaddai leader's endorsement of his candidacy.

"Ang aking policy basta sila ang magsasabi, very close naman kami sa El Shaddai ever since at ako tinutulungan nila ever since sa lahat ng ginagawa ko lalo na sa larangan ng pulitika," said Villar.

Velarde, meanwhile, did not outright say he is supporting the Nacionalista bets but did mention Villar's slogan "para maka-ahon sa kahirapan" several times during his Easter message. He introduced Villar as "someone like me who desires change" and referred to Legarda as "my vice-president."

In an interview, Velarde said he has yet to endorse any of the candidates and would only make his decision known a week before the elections. He added, however, that Villar's frequent appearances in El Shaddai gatherings could be an advantage.

Some reporters, meanwhile, noted that Velarde used a purple microphone foam cover while introducing Aquino, Roxas, Estrada and Binay and then switched to an orange microphone when introducing Villar and Legarda. Orange is the official campaign color of Villar.

Velarde's response? "That is just in the eyes of the viewer," he said.

Villar irked by rumors he's FG's bet

Villar's camp, meanwhile, accused the Liberal Party of spreading black propaganda to undermine his bid for the presidency.

In a statement, Villar denied that he is secretly being backed by First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo instead of Lakas-Kampi Christian Muslim Democrats standard-bearer Gilbert Teodoro. He said there was no truth to the LP's "Villaroyo" tag.

He also said he has never spoken to Mr. Arroyo and that he was not receiving any financial backing from the First Gentleman or President Arroyo.

Legarda, meanwhile, said her camp has received reports that former Cabinet members are behind the black propaganda being circulated against Villar. She added that she will reveal the names of those spreading lies about the NP candidate in due time.

LP senatorial bet Risa Hontiveros, meanwhile, said the defection of Lakas members to the Nacionalista Party was the handiwork of the First Gentleman.

"In politics, you don't have to say everything. It’s the double-speak, the lack of funds, and the defection not of ordinary members but of party stalwarts that say it all - Gilbert Teodoro doesn't have the support of Malacañang," she said in a statement.

She also said she is surprised that Lakas could not deliver resources to its members to support the administration bet. "It is uncommon for the ruling party not to have the resources for its re-election, unless its main source of funds - in this case, FG Mike Arroyo - is supporting someone else," the Akbayan partylist representative said.

She added: "In the House of Representatives, they gave out projects and cash allowances just to secure the attendance and the vote of legislators for the passage of administration-supported bills. It is surprising that the administration could not  do the same muscle-flexing and resource mobilization to clinch the victory of Teodoro."