Iglesia Ni Cristo backs UniTeam of Bongbong Marcos and Sara Duterte

Nagkatotoo na nga ang bulong-bulungan na susuportahan ng isa sa maimpluwensyang relihiyon sa bansa, ang Iglesia Ni Cristo, ang tambalang Bongbong Marcos at Sara Duterte sa darating na May 9 election. Inanunsyo ng INC ang listahan ng kanilang susuportahan mula pangulo, bise pangulo, hanggang mga senador sa NET25 na siya rin naman nilang pagmamay ari.

THE Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) officially endorsed on Tuesday the candidacies of former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. for president and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio for vice president in the May 9 elections.

For senator, the INC endorsed the candidacies of former vice president Jejomar “Jojo” Binay, former Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, Sorsogon Gov. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Jose “Jinggoy” Ejercito Jr., Sen. Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian, Antique Rep. Lorna Regina “Loren” Legarda, Robinhood Ferdinand “Robin” Padilla, Sen. Joel Villanueva, former Public Works and Highways secretary Mark Villar, and Sen. Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri.

This was announced on INC-owned broadcast channel Net 25 on Tuesday, May 3.

Since its establishment in 1914, the INC has been active in national and local politics. Political candidates traditionally seek the endorsement of the INC due to its practice of bloc voting during elections.

The church supported the presidential candidacy of Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino 3rd in 2010. In 2016, the INC endorsed the candidacies of President Rodrigo Duterte and Marcos, who was then running for the vice presidency.

The INC also endorsed former president Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr., during the 1965, 1969, 1981 and 1986 elections.

As of 2015 data, INC has 2.6 million members and they are known to practice bloc-voting, or vote according to their leaders’ endorsements.

Sisikapin po namin na ang tiwalang ibinigay n’yo sa aming tambalan ay magbubunga ng tunay na pagkakaisa ng mga Pilipino – Bongbong Marcos

Marcos and Duterte held their campaign kickoff rally at the INC-owned Philippine Arena, but Marcos’ spokesperson Vic Rodriguez said back then the venue did not mean anything.

INC takes pride in endorsing candidates who eventually won. Prior to Aquino, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Joseph Estrada also won the INC’s blessing. In a 2014 interview, INC spokesperson Edwil Zabala denied reports that such endorsement has strings attached to it.