A group of pastors and bishops on Wednesday told a religious leader who came in last in the presidential race to stop mixing religion and politics, labeling his campaign tactics "a perversion."
Eddie Villanueva - spiritual leader of the Jesus is Lord movement and a candidate for the Rise Philippines party - has refused to concede defeat, claiming the May 10 election was marred by massive cheating and that he would concede only once the true will of the people is made clear.
An umbrella organisation of born-again Christian churches allied with Villanueva urged him to yield.
"You did not hear the voice of God. You should accept the reality that you lost," said Reynaldo Carillo of the Jesus Is Our Shield ministries.
Carillo said Villanueva should not have joined politics since he had a religious calling.
Norberto Mercado, a bishop from the umbrella group Prayer Shield for the Statesmen of the Nations also advised the faithful to be wary against joining protest rallies in the guise of prayer vigils.
Villanueva last week convened a prayer rally, where he complained of the lack of credibility in the vote count.
"This is not God's method. It is the perversion of prayer by the devil," Mercado said.
Butch Belgica, a pastor of the Romans 13 Movement and a supporter of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, said born-again Christians have been divided by Villanueva's presidential bid.
Villanueva's church claims some 7 million members, but he got only 1,988,218 votes to finish last among the five candidates.
Congress' final tally of votes had Arroyo with 12,905,808 votes and her closest rival, movie star Fernando Poe Jr., with 11,782,232.