THE Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) officially announced on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, its support to the candidacy of presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and his running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.
The group, which has around three million followers around the world and is known to vote as a bloc, also endorsed senatorial candidates former Vice President Jojo Binay, Taguig Representative Alan Peter Cayetano, former senators JV Ejercito and Jinggoy Estrada, former Philippine National Police chief Guillermo Eleazar, Sorsogon Governor Francis "Chiz" Escudero, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, Juan Miguel Zubiri and Joel Villanueva, Antique Representative Loren Legarda, actor Robin Padilla and former public works and highways secretary Mark Villar.
“Ang kaisahan ng Iglesia ay kinikilala ng mga miyembro nito na isa sa mga aral ng bibliya na dapat sundin,” a NET25 news anchor said during the televised announcement.
NET25 is a network run by INC.
“Ang pasya ng pamamahala ng Iglesia ay iginagalang ng mga miyembro nito. Ang mga pulitiko naman ay kinikilala ang magagawang tulong ng unity ng Iglesia sa kanilang ikapapanalo sa Mayo 9, araw ng Lunes, sa araw ng botohan,” he added.
In a statement, Marcos’ spokesperson, lawyer Vic Rodriguez, expressed gratitude to the religious group for its trust and support to the UniTeam tandem.
“Ang tambalang Bongbong Marcos-Sara Duterte ay buong kababaang loob na tinatanggap ang pag indorso ng mga kapatiran natin mula sa Iglesia Ni Cristo sa pangunguna ng Tagapamahalang Pangkalahatan Kapatid Eduardo Manalo,” he said.
“Amin pong pakahahalagahan ang suportang inyong ibinigay katulad din sa suportang ipinamalas ng higit sa mayorya ng ating mga kapwa Pilipino. Ang ganitong uri ng pagtitiwala ang siyang magiging gabay nila presidential frontrunner Bongbong Marcos at vice presidential leader Inday Sara Duterte sa pamumuno ng ating bansa sakaling sila ay palarin at halal ninyo sa darting na eleksyon sa ika-9 ng Mayo,” he added.
In 2016, the INC supported then Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Marcos, who lost the vice presidential race. (SunStar Philippines)