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Iglesia Ni Cristo: No announcement of endorsed candidates yet at church service


The Iglesia ni Cristo on Thursday denied reports that it has announced its endorsements for the May 9 polls during a church service on Wednesday.

"The claim that INC announced an endorsement through a circular read during a worship service by Executive Minister Brother Eduardo V. Manalo is inaccurate," Edwil Zabala, the church's spokesperson, said in a text message sent to GMA News Online.

However, the circular reportedly contained a reminder to members to vote according to their church duties. Members will likely get the sample ballots after church services instead.

On Wednesday, Zabala told GMA News Online that church leadership has already chosen the candidates that the group will support and is now in the process of informing its offices and chapters about it.

A supposed sample ballot showing the names of the candidates the church is allegedly supporting circulated on social media on Wednesday.

Zabala had refused to comment when asked by GMA News Online if the leaked sample ballot indeed came from their group or if the names in the ballots reflect the choice of the INC leadership.

The leaked sample ballot listed the names of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. as the supposed endorsed candidates of the Iglesia Ni Cristo for the presidential and vice presidential posts, respectively.

Based on the number of its members, the Iglesia Ni Cristo is expected to bring about 1.7 million votes to its chosen candidates.

Duterte welcomes endorsement

Despite no official confirmation from church leadership, presidential frontrunner Rodrigo Duterte said it welcomed the endorsement.

"We welcome the endorsement of the Iglesia ni Cristo. This is a big boost to our campaign particularly to thwart attempts by the administration to cheat the elections," said Duterte media head Peter Laviña in a statement.

"This endorsement shows that Duterte's advocacy for #TunayNaPagbabago has resonated to almost all our people and all our church formations affected by the rising crimes and drugs, continuing corruption and government neglect, poverty and sufferings of our people.

Laviña noted that while the Davao City mayor has received support from various religious organizations, the Iglesia Ni Cristo's record for voting in blocks gives a major boost to their campaign, saying "this INC endorsement is truly significant."

Bongbong to INC: Thank you

Marcos also thanked the Iglesia ni Cristo for its reported support on his vice presidential bid.

"Kung 'yan ang pasya ng ating mga kaibigan sa Iglesia nagpapasalamat ako. Napakalaking bagay ang suporta ng kapatiran sa kahit na sinong kandidato,” he said during a news forum at the Senate.

He said he believes the support was a result of his campaign message of unity and his detailed platform of government.

"Sa lahat ng nagpahayag ng suporta ako ay nagpapasalamat. Isipin natin kung paano babantayan ang mga boto sa Lunes at marami tayong naririnig na pangamba,” Marcos said.

He then mentioned the supposed manipulation of surveys to favor administration bets, describing it as the "first step to cheating."

"Yan ang first step sa pandaraya, kailangang maging very vigilant tayo. Alamin ang karapatan ng mga voter at sabihin kung may malaking pagbabago o pandaraya," said Marcos.

The latest Pulse Asia survey showed administration vice presidential bet Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo at the top spot, overtaking Marcos by taking a two-point lead. —KG/JST/KBK, GMA News

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