PNoy hints he will not attend big Iglesia ni Cristo gathering

Published February 28, 2012 12:54pm

President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday hinted that he would not go to the Grand Evangelical Mission of the Iglesia ni Cristo in Manila, saying his presence there might give the gathering a political color.

“Parang me ipinarating naman na my presence might give political tinge in the whole affair which detracts from the religious intention of this activity,” Aquino told reporters in an interview after attending the 4th national congress of the Coordinating Council of Private Education Associations in Manila.

Asked if he was formally invited to the event, Aquino said: “Ang pagkakasabi sa akin lahat imbitado dito dahil parang grand part of evangelization work,” he said.

About three million Iglesia ni Cristo members are expected to attend the event at Quirino Grandstand in Manila. As early as 7 a.m., police have kept watch over the Luneta area, including nearby roads and hotels, as buses and jeeps carrying delegates from the provinces started arriving.

The gathering is touted as a "Bible Exposition," but observers also see it as a demonstration of the religious group's numbers and potential political clout.

A few hundred Iglesia ni Cristo members were notably present in support of Chief Justice Renato Corona at a Supreme Court rally about three weeks ago. Corona's chief defense counsel, former Associate Justice Serafin Cuevas, is a prominent member of the religious group. Centennial celebration

But the President believes the event is part of Iglesia ni Cristo's building up activity for its centennial celebration in 2014.

“Others are saying that there is a political dimension to it. Their (INC’s) official communication to us is this is part of their religious obligations and part of their faith. Like any other adherence in that particular faith, you would want to gain more and more adherence like this is your view of the truth and you would want to share that also,” he said.

“They want a very significant centennial celebration in two years time and they have deemed this is necessary to lead to that,” he added.

Asked for his message to the religious group, Aquino said he just wanted to thank them for supporting his political career since he was a representative of Tarlac and providing “warm bodies on the street” on his projects.

“Of course, I was supported by the Church in 2010 and also in 2007 so andun yung thank you. I’m sure that they have been partners like when I was a congressman in Tarlac,” he said.

“Like any other Filipino, we are really endeavouring to provide each and everyone all the opportunities towards personal advancement regardless of faith, regardless of political beliefs, these opportunities I think are the primary duty …primary obligation and duty of the government,” Aquino added. — RSJ, GMA News

Tags: iglesianicristo, noynoyaquino