THE Iglesia ni Cristo has thrown its support behind Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte for president and Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for vice president, church insiders told The Standard Wednesday.
In its “Tagubilin” or instruction to members of the flock read during Wednesday’s “Pagsamba,” the church formally endorsed the candidacy of Duterte and Marcos for the May 9 elections, the sources said.
The source added, however, that church officials would not admit the endorsement.
“If you run the story, we will deny it. Yes, there are sample ballots already prepared and with the ministers. But they are supposed to be sealed and revealed only on Friday. The traditional release is the Friday before the election. Obviously there is a leak, but this is why we have to deny until the official release date,” the source said.
The INC also endorsed a 12-person senatorial ticket: Senate President Franklin Drilon; Valenzuela Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian; Philippine Red Cross chairman Richard Gordon, former PhilHealth director Risa Hontiveros; former rehabilitation czar Panfilo Lacson, Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao, Senator Ralph Recto; Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez; Senator Vicente Sotto III, former Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino; former Technical Education and Skills Authority director-general Joel Villanueva; and former senator Juan Miguel Zubiri.
Of the 12, three are running under the ruling Liberal Party banner (Drilon, Recto and Villanueva); two are running under the Nationalist People’s Coalition (Gatchalian and Sotto)’ and one each from Akbayan (Hontiveros); Lakas-CMD (Romualdez); and the United Nationalist Alliance (Pacquiao).
Four are independents (Gordon, Lacson, Tolentino and Zubiri).
From April 19 to 27, all presidential bets—administration candidate Manuel Roxas II, Vice President Jejomar Binay, Duterte, Senator Grace Poe and Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago—took turns in paying courtesy calls to INC Executive Minister Eduardo V. Manalo at the INC Central Office in Quezon City.
Earlier this week, President Benigno Aquino III visited the Iglesia ni Cristo Central Office on Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City to seek for an endorsement for his anointed bets Roxas and vice presidential candidate Leni Robredo.
In an interview, Aquino said he thanked Manalo for supporting the administration, adding that he asked for “the usual… political appeals.”
The church group, with an estimated membership of 3 million, is known for voting as a bloc for whoever their leaders endorse.
Recent scandals resulting from a feud within the Manalo clan, however, could put a dent in bloc voting.
Previous exit polls by the Social Weather Stations showed that 77 percent of 1.8 million INC voters followed bloc voting.
Church insiders said Duterte may have been endorsed for his “winnability,” while the leadership endorsed Marcos because of the strong relationship between INC founder Felix Y. Manalo and the senator’s father, the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos.
The Palace played down the cool reception to Aquino’s request for an endorsement, saying it welcomed the endorsement of any presidential candidate by the influential church.
“In a vibrant democracy, the active participation of as many organizations and stakeholders in the electoral process is key in shaping the nation’s future,” said Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., in a statement.
The INC did not comment on Aquino’s visit, but denied a report (not in The Standard) that it was endorsing Duterte, based on a letter supposedly written by Manalo.
But a church spokesman said the letter was a forgery, and said the INC would take action against the persons responsible for it. With Sandy Araneta