INC IS FOR ‘PEACE,’ THROWS SUPPORT BEHIND VP SARA

THE Iglesia Ni Cristo, considered as among the most influential religious institutions in the country, has thrown its support behind Vice President Sara Duterte by backing President Marcos Jr. in his call asking Congress to stop any impeachment against her.

In an announcement last December 4 thru its own television network, NET25, and which rattled the ruling political elite, the INC said its membership, numbering in the millions all over the country, are preparing for a “rally” in their respective localities in support of the President’s call for Congress not to impeach his Vice President.

Pres. Marcos made the call thru a text message to members of Congress subsequently “leaked” to the media and which he confirmed during an out-of-town engagement in Quezon province last November 29. He said that “in his opinion,” the effort was just “a waste of time.”

“This (impeachment) is not important. This does not make any difference to even one single Filipino life.

“So why waste time on it? What will happen if somebody files an impeachment? It will tie down the House. It will tie down the Senate,” the President said, as quoted by the Philippine News Agency.

Despite the President’s call, however, two successive impeachment complaints were filed against Duterte, the first last December 2 by a coalition of the Duterte’s political enemies from the Liberal Party headed by former senator Leila de Lima and their communist allies and the second, last December 4, by the ‘Makabayan Bloc,’ consisting of front organizations of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) now allied with the Office of House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

In sum, both complaints accused the Vice President of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, bribery, graft and corruption, and other high crimes.

Both cited Duterte’s alleged misuse of the P612.5 million in confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) and which remain the subject of a continuing probe by the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, headed by Manila congressman, Joel Chua,

Incidentally, Chua was among those publicly shamed by Duterte during her social media broadcast last November 25 for allegedly pursuing his probe for the “sake of money.”

However, on the same day the second impeachment complaint was received in Congress, the INC issued its powerful call.

“The members of the [INC] are preparing to hold a rally to express their support to the position of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. against the impeachment being pushed by certain sectors because there are more pressing problems that the country is facing that should be prioritized by the government,” said Gen Subardiaga, one of the hosts of the ‘Sa Ganang Mamamayan’ program.

“The [INC] is for peace. We oppose any form of chaos (“kaguluhan”) coming from any side,” he added.

Subardiaga said he made the announcement on the instruction of the Church’s leadership.

It can be recalled that early last October, former president Rodrigo Duterte, the father of the Vice President, paid a ‘courtesy call’ to INC supreme leader, “Ka” Eduardo Manalo.

Although no details were given after the meeting, the elder Duterte was followed several days later by President Marcos Jr.

Informed sources claimed that in this meeting the INC already hinted to Pres. Marcos Jr., to use his influence to stop the unending hearings against the Dutertes being conducted by Congress as these have been causing political tension and division at a time when the country is facing more pressing problems.

In particular, the hearings being conducted by the House Quadcomm even dragged the INC into controversy involving police colonel Edilberto Leonardo, an INC member.

The House leadership also stripped Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, another INC member, of all his committees after being seen as biased in favor of the Vice President.

The INC’s statement caught the country’s political leadership by surprise. On Friday, December 6, lawmakers were summoned for a meeting in Malacañan but the Palace said it has nothing to do with the Vice President or the INC but about several pieces of legislation the President is expected to sign into law.

Known for their ‘bloc voting,’ the massive support delivered by the INC to the then ‘UniTeam’ of President Marcos and VP Duterte resulted to their overwhelming victory in the 2022 elections.

In particular, the support of the INC is being sought by candidates during elections, especially at the local level where they have been historically known to deliver the ‘margin of victory’ in any contested local position.

Incidentally, many of the members of Congress involved in the investigation of Duterte are running for local positions. It is not yet clear if the INC is ready to support them in their respective campaigns come election day.