Arroyo mourns passing of INC leader Eraño Manalo

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Tuesday expressed sadness over the death of Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) Executive Minister Eraño Manalo, whom she described as "another great leader in this generation." "President Arroyo today [Tuesday] joins the Filipino nation in mourning the passing away of (Manalo)," said Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita in a statement. Mrs. Arroyo, who is currently in Libya, also extended her condolences to those left behind by the religious leader. The INC, known for having its members vote as a bloc during elections, backed Mrs. Arroyo’s candidacy in the 2004 polls. Earlier in the day, INC spokesperson Bienvenido Santiago announced Manalo’s death on Monday afternoon. [See Iglesia ni Cristo’s Eraño Manalo dies at 84] "Ikinalulungkot naming ipabatid sa buong Iglesia at sa buong sambayanan na ang tagapamahalang pangkalahatan ng Iglesia ni Cristo, ang kapatid na Eraño G. Manalo ay pinagpahinga na ng Diyos. Pumanaw siya sa kanyang tahanan sa ganap na 3:53 kahapon Agosto 31, 2009, sa gulang na 84 taon," Santiago said in a recorded announcement. (We are sad to announce to the Iglesia and to the whole nation that the Executive Minister of Iglesia ni Cristo, our brother Eraño G. Manalo, joined our Creator. He passed away at his home 3:53 p.m. on August 31, 2009. He was 84 years old.) Manalo’s remains lie in state at the INC’s Central Temple in Quezon City. As of posting time, the start of the public viewing for INC members and the public has yet to be announced. Ermita quoted President Arroyo as saying that Manalo’s legacy was "an institution of religion and faith that is stronger than ever today." She also described Manalo as an advocate of spiritual formation and nation-building. The Iglesia ni Cristo was founded in 1914 by Eraño Manalo’s father, Felix. The younger Manalo took over the religious group’s reins when Felix died in 1963. Manalo had guided the INC through a long period of national and global expansion, and in the last decade, had thrown his church's clout behind former president Joseph Estrada when he ran in 1998. Its membership has been estimated at between two and eight million members concentrated in Tagalog-speaking regions of Luzon. But its churches are reportedly located in over 60 countries. It is widely known that the INC's power lies in the tagubilin coming from Manalo and other church leaders, orders that cannot be disputed by members and can be used to command voting blocs around the country. - with Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV