President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (L) and Vice President Sara Duterte. | PHOTOS: Official Facebook page of Bongbong Marcos and Lyn Rillon on Inquirer
(Updated: Dec. 6, 2024, 11:01 p.m.)
The Christian sect Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) has announced that its members will rally across the country against the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte, ostensibly in support of the call of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The religious group announced its plan on one of its television programs on NET25, the INC鈥檚 broadcast network, on Wednesday night.
鈥淭he members of the [INC] are preparing to hold a rally to express their support of the stance of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. against the impeachment being pushed by certain sectors because there are more pressing problems that the country is facing that should be prioritized by the government,鈥� Gen Subardiaga, host of 鈥淪a Ganang Mamamayan,鈥� said in Filipino.
鈥淭he [INC] is for peace. We oppose any form of disturbance coming from any side,鈥� he added.
Subardiaga did not give details of the plan or where and when the first rally would be held. But he said that INC congregations were already preparing 鈥渓arge gatherings鈥� to support the President鈥檚 position of 鈥渘o to impeachment鈥� against the Vice President.
Two complaints filed
Two separate impeachment complaints were filed this week at the House of Representatives by various progressive groups and individuals.
The latest complaint, filed on Wednesday, accused Duterte of betrayal of public trust, and the first on Monday, charged her with culpable violation of the Constitution, bribery, betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, and other high crimes. Both cited Duterte鈥檚 alleged misuse of the P612.5 million in confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) when she headed it.
Subardiaga said he made the announcement of the planned rallies upon the instructions of the INC leadership.
Known for the 鈥渂loc voting鈥� power of its members, the INC openly supported the UniTeam of Marcos and Duterte during the 2022 elections. The formidable tandem won by a landslide.
3rd largest
With 2.8 million members, INC is the third-largest religious group in the country, according to the government census in 2020. Roman Catholics predominate with over 85 million, followed by nearly 7 million Muslims.
The INC rallies will purportedly support the President鈥檚 statement last week shunning plans to impeach Duterte following her break with the administration and her shocking disclosure that she had arranged the assassination of Mr. Marcos, the first lady and Speaker Martin Romualdez should an alleged plot to kill her succeed.
Marcos: Just a distraction
Marcos called on his supporters in the House of Representatives to drop any plan to impeach Duterte, as this would distract both the House and the Senate from their more urgent work. Besides, he said, Duterte was 鈥渦nimportant鈥� and an impeachment would not help Filipinos.
READ: Marcos says he ordered impeachment moves vs VP Sara Duterte stopped
鈥淪o, why waste time on this?鈥� Mr. Marcos said. 鈥淲hat will happen if somebody files an impeachment? It will tie down the House; it will tie down the Senate. It will just take up all our time, and for what? For nothing, for nothing. None of this will help improve a single Filipino life.鈥�
Malaca帽ang distanced itself from the two impeachment complaints filed by the opposition.
Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said in a statement this week that an impeachment complaint was the initiative of the individuals concerned and the endorsement of any such move was the prerogative of the members of the House.
鈥淭he Office of the President has nothing to do with it,鈥� Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said in a statement.