Duterte meets Eduardo Manalo, assures Iglesia ni Cristo of support if elected president

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte on Friday assured the members of the Iglesia ni Cristo that their rights and welfare will be taken care of if he is elected president.

In a statement released hours after he met with Iglesia ni Cristo executive minister Eduardo Manalo, Duterte said he presented his program against crime, illegal drugs and corruption to the religious leader.

"Kung nanaisin ng Banal na Panginoon at ako ay mahalal sa darating na eleksyon, makakaasa ang milyun-milyong miyembro ng Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) na ipaglalaban ko ang kanilang karapatan at kapakanan bilang mamamayan at mananampalataya," Duterte said.

"Gabay ang Diyos at sa tulong ng mamamayang Pilipino, isusulong natin ang tunay na pagbabago," he added.

In an interview, Duterte confirmed meeting Manalo.

He, however, said they didn't discuss support of the block voting religious group.

"Wala ho. Ano ang mabuti sa Pilipinas," Duterte said when asked what he and Manalo talked about.

Duterte's rivals former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, Senator Grace Poe, and Vice President Jejomar Binay had also visited the influential religious group.

"Ako yung nagsulat naghingi ako ng pakipag-usap kung pwede at puntahan ko," Duterte said.

What if the Iglesia ni Cristo supported another candidate?

"I will respect their decision," Duterte said.

Members of the Iglesia ni Cristo held massive rallies in different parts of Metro Manila last year after the Department of Justice started its investigation of the group's top leaders following allegations of illegal detention made by a former minister. —NB, GMA News