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Iglesia Ni Cristo endorses Noynoy Aquino, Mar Roxas


(Updated 9:59 a.m.) Ending the suspense over the choice of one of the country's most coveted command votes, the Iglesia Ni Cristo has endorsed Liberal Party standard-bearer Sen. Noynoy Aquino and his running mate Sen. Mar Roxas. The INC can deliver as many as two million votes. GMA Network's Unang Balita reported the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) local church in Quezon City announced its decision at a liturgical service around 4:45 a.m.
Excerpts from the INC statement on its endorsement of Aquino, Roxas and senatorial candidates from various parties:
"...Maraming mahahalagang bagay ang isinaalang-alang sa pagbuo ng desisyong ito. Pagkatapos ng masusing pag-aaral kaalakip ang panalangin, ang Iglesia'y naniniwalang ito ay sa ikabubuti ng ating bansa. Hindi nangangahulugan na ang ibang mga kandidato'y hindi karapat-dapat humawak ng mga nasabing posisyon. Alam namin mayroon silang kakahayahan at karanasan at nasa puso nila ang kapakanan ng bansa. Nakasama na namin ang marami sa kanila sa mga programa at proyekto ukol sa pagkakawang-gawa para sa ating mga kababayan. Karaminhan sa kanila ay kaibigan namin na nakipagdiwang sa amin at nakiramay sa aming kalungkutan at gumagalang sa aming karapatan at kalayaang pang-relihiyon. Nakikiisa kami sa buong bansa sa paghahangad ng malinis at mapayapang halalan, at para sa kapakanan ng Pilipinas ay dalangin namin ang magiging kapasyahan ng taumbayan ay igagalang ng lahat."
Under its late patriarch Eraño Manalo, the INC was allied with ex-president Ferdinand Marcos in the 1986 snap elections against Aquino's mother, Cory Aquino, who would eventually become president after the fall of Marcos. The INC has since endorsed the past two winning presidential candidates, Joseph Estrada and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Since the elder Manalo died last year, his son Eduardo Manalo has led the secretive, highly disciplined religious group founded by his grandfather Felix in 1914. But the INC, which has been wooed by politicians since the time of Manuel Quezon, will endorse a "mixed" list for the senatorial race, a radio dzMM report said. It said the announcement came from Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo, who also urged INC members to vote early and not to engage in arguments over who they voted for. Senatorial bets to be endorsed by the INC include Rozzano Rufino Biazon (LP), Ramon Revilla Jr. (Lakas-Kampi-CMD), Pilar Juliana Cayetano (NP), Miriam Santiago (PRP), Franklin Drilon (LP), Juan Ponce Enrile (PMP), Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada (PMP), Teofisto Guingona III (LP), Manuel "Lito" Lapid (Lakas-Kampi-CMD), Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos (NP), Ralph Recto (LP), and Vicente "Tito" Sotto III. For Quezon City, the INC endorsed Herbert Bautista for mayor, and Joy Belmonte for vice mayor, and Matias Defensor for congressman. The INC will announce its bets for local posts in its local parishes, the dzMM report said.

Noynoy bares three meetings with INC The INC's endorsement should more than make up for the blow Aquino received when Apollo Quiboloy, the Davao-based leader of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, endorsed Gibo Teodoro last May 2. The day before, on May 1, Aquino disclosed that he met thrice this year with INC executive minister Eduardo Manalo to bare his platform of government. “Wala pa tayong sinabi na suportang mula sa kanila. Tayo ay nakipagpanayam kay Ka Eduardo nang tatlong beses at pinatingnan natin ang concerns natin among other sa automation, niliwanag ang platformat sa pakiusap, walang nangyayari. Umaasa po tayo pinakinggan sa ating gustong sabihin (I am not saying I expect their endorsement. But I met with Ka Eduardo thrice so far this year and we discussed our concerns about the election. I also explained my platform of government. I merely hoped he would listen to what I had to say)," he said at a press conference in Urdaneta, Pangasinan. At the time, he said that if the INC will indeed support him, he would wait for it to make the announcement. “Parang presumptuous, parang makapal ang mukha at tinuruan tayo huwag maging makapal ang mukha. So kung bibigyan kami ng tulong palagay ko mas mabuti kung sino man ang grupo, sila na magsabi (It would be presumptuous if I announced it. I would rather that the group supporting me make the announcement)," Aquino said. Mar, LP welcome INC endorsement
The religious vote in the past presidential elections
Despite the separation of church and state, the power of the religious sector has always been regarded as a crucial factor that could influence the results of elections in the country. Known to command the votes of their flock, religious groups have in the past actively endorsed candidates. Gaining the support of religious organizations can spell victory for a candidate. Two of the more prominent religious groups that have been wooed by politicians in past elections are the Iglesia ni Cristo and the El Shaddai, both known to deliver "block votes." Read more: How influential is the religious vote? - GMANews.TV
In a television interview, Roxas said the INC's support is a significant contribution to the campaign of the LP tandem. "Malaking tulong po ito. Wini-welcome natin ang pag-endorse ng INC na napakalaking samahan na nirerespeto (This is a big help. We welcome the endorsement of the INC, which is a big and respected organization)," Roxas told Unang Balita anchor Arnold Clavio. For his part, LP spokesman Rep. Erin Tañada believes the INC endorsement will have a "snowball effect." "Malaking tulong po at nagpapasalamat po kami sa pamunuan ng Iglesia ni Cristo. Meron silang proseso na sinusunod at ito'y malaking tulong sa amin dahil alam naman po naming marami pong miyembro ang Iglesia ni Cristo (This is big help to us and we are thanking the Iglesia ni Cristo leadership. They follow a process and we're very thankful because we know Iglesia ni Cristo has a lot of members)," Tañada said in an interview over Unang Hirit. Tañada said the LP is confident that majority, if not all, of its senatorial bets would win in the elections even though the INC did not endorse the party's full slate. — with Sophia Dedace and Johanna Camille Sisante/LBG/HGS/RSJ, GMANews.TV
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