No official endorsement of VP candidate yet –Iglesia Ni Cristo

The influential Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) on Friday clarified that it has yet to officially endorse a vice presidential candidate for the May 9 elections.

In a phone interview with GMA News Online, Iglesia Ni Cristo spokesperson Edwil Zabala neither confirmed nor denied the reports that they have already chosen to endorse the vice presidential bid of Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

"Basta sa ngayon ay wala pa kaming opisyal na ine-endorso. Maaring mayroon nang napili ang pamunuan pero wala pa kaming ina-announce," Zabala said.

"Hindi ko alam saan nanggaling ang balita na may ine-endorso na. Kung mayroon na, ako dapat ang una makakaalam at magbabalita sainyo niyan," he added.

Several media reports, citing “reliable source,” said the Iglesia Ni Cristo has already chosen to endorse Marcos' vice presidential bid as well as the senatorial bids of his cousin, Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, and of former Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Francis Tolentino.

"Huwag kayong mag-alala. Kapag  nasabi na namin sa mga kapatid namin sa Iglesia kung sino ang napagkaisahang iboboto ng INC ay sasabihiin din namin sainyo," Zabala said in a follow-up text message to GMA News Online.

Meanwhile, in a separate phone interview, Marcos’ media relation officer Honey Rose Mercado said the senator was misquoted by a media outfit for saying that he has already confirmed Iglesia Ni Cristo's endorsement.

"Na-misquote siya. We will issue a press statement soon, but definitely walang sinabi si Senator Marcos na siya na nga ang napiling i-endorse,” Mercado said.

Iglesia Ni Cristo members are known to vote as a bloc . The group is expected to bring about two million votes to its chosen candidates. —KBK, GMA News