Senators: Iglesia ni Cristo gathering not a show of support for Corona

Senators on Tuesday dismissed speculations that the big gathering of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) is a show of support for embattled Chief Justice Renato Corona.

 

"Palagay ko yung [gathering] na gaganapin mamaya eh wala naman sigurong relasyon a impeachment trial. Although may mga agam-agam, haka-haka yun ay show of force para ipakita ang suporta kay Chief Justice Corona...di ako naniniwala," Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada said during an interview with reporters.

 

Corona's lead defense counsel, former Supreme Court Associate Justice Serafin Cuevas, is a prominent member of the Iglesia ni Cristo.

 

In a separate interview, Senator Panfilo Lacson said he was invited to the event and he was assured that the event was not political in any way.

 

"I was told by some top people sa leadership ng INC, sinabi nila that’s a purely religious activity, pamamahayag. Ginagawa nila ito palagi. At meron silang susunod na mga aktibidades patungkol sa kanilang relihiyon. So walang bahid na kulay pulitika ang kanilang ginagawa," Lacson said. 

 

"I’m in close touch with some very influential people sa INC. That much they clarified, walang political activity kasama sa kanilang religious activity for today," he added.

 

For his part, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, presiding officer of the impeachment court, said it was just "natural" that such rumors would go around.

 

"May kanya-kanyang motivation, agenda, interes yung mga tao so kanya-kanyang kuru-kuro yan," he said.

 

He likewise said he doubts that such a stunt would influence any of the senator-judges.  

 

"Di ko alam pero hindi naman siguro... prayer rally [lang naman] yun," Enrile said, adding that he cannot prevent any member of the Senate to attend the gathering.

 

"Di naman kailangan ipagbawal yun. Nasa kanya-kanya yun eh kung member sila ng congregation.  Para mo ring pinagbabawal yung mga senador na wag pupunta sa simbahan kapag ang nakasakdal eh Katoliko," he said.

 

Enrile and Estrada said they were not invited to the rally. On the other hand, Lacson said he said he will not be able to attend the event because of the impeachment trial.  

 

But Estrada said they have been asked to adjourn the trial earlier because of the Iglesia ni Cristo event. Enrile, however, said that they will go through with their schedule. — Kimberly Jane Tan/RSJ, GMA News