Sara Duterte calls on INC to temporarily stop religious services

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio called on the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) to temporarily stop its religious worship and other related gatherings over the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) threat or else risk facing legal action.

“Very critical rito ang Iglesia ni Cristo, kasi mayroon ng Executive Order [stating] that all religious gatherings should be suspended. May mga members na sila na ayaw mag-attend [ng religious services] because of this developing situation. But I have received information that they still call on their members to go to their [religious] center or church,” Duterte-Carpio said in a radio interview.

“I would like to remind them that going to their religious service will not keep them from getting infected [with COVID-19]; it will not prevent you from getting sick,” Duterte-Carpio added.

Duterte-Carpio then said that those who would not comply with social distancing measures could face legal action.

“Kung hindi sila mag-comply, we will be exploring the legal side [for remedy]," Duterte-Carpio explained.

Last March 12, Duterte-Carpio already ordered the cancellation of all meetings, conventions, exhibits, conferences, parties, and other social activities to prevent the transmission of COVID-19.

The INC is an influential religious group whose more than a million members vote as a bloc during elections. — Llanesca T. Panti/DVM, GMA News