Palace exec: No reason to believe Iglesia ni Cristo event is politically motivated

A Malacañang spokesperson on Monday said they have no reason to believe that Iglesia ni Cristo's (INC) mammoth medical mission is politically motivated.

 

"At this point, we have no reason to believe otherwise than the purpose for which it is being stated na it’s a medical and dental mission that they have chosen to conduct," deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said during a press conference.

 

She issued the statement amid speculation that the INC event, which shut down traffic and canceled classes in parts of Metro Manila, is a show of force to the government.

 

Even Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago said in a statement on Monday that "there is a message behind the INC event today."

 

"If you are a politician and you don’t get it, you are a fool," she said.

 

Iglesia ni Cristo Minister of Gospel Edwil Zabala, however, denied this and said this is not the first time they held such an event.

 

Valte, however, admitted that even Palace officials were affected by the event.

 

"There are some of us who are still traversing their way through the metro. I, however, left early and took alternative routes as recommended by the MMDA," she said. — Kimberly Jane Tan/RSJ, GMA News