Corona won’t attend Iglesia Ni Cristo gathering
Chief Justice Renato Corona will not attend the Iglesia ni Cristo gathering at the Quirino Grandstand on Tuesday, Supreme Court (SC) spokesperson Midas Marquez said. “He [Corona] received an invitation, but he was advised not to attend anymore so he will not be accused of being there for a political purpose,” Marquez said at a press briefing, adding that all Supreme Court justices were invited by the group. Marquez said the chief magistrate is extending his congratulations to the Iglesia Ni Cristo, considered as the largest Christian organization that originated in the Philippines. The group is also known for its bloc voting during elections. Corona is currently being tried in the Senate after he was impeached by the House of Representatives for betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, and graft and corruption. A few hundred Iglesia Ni Cristo members attended a rally supporting Corona three weeks ago. Corona’s lead defense counsel for the impeachment trial, retired Justice Serafin Cuevas, is a prominent member of the religious group. Hundreds of thousands of Iglesia Ni Cristo members from its over 4,000 congregations are expected to converge at the Quirino Grandstand for their Grand Evangelical Mission on Tuesday afternoon. President Benigno Aquino III, who was endorsed by the Iglesia Ni Cristo during the May 2010 polls, hinted on Tuesday morning that he is not going to attend the gathering at the Quirino Grandstand. - Andreo C. Calonzo/KBK, GMA News