Senators support INC: Prayer rally for peace, unity is non-debatable

Several senators on Monday expressed their support for the National Rally for Peace conducted by religious group Iglesia ni Cristo at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila on Monday.

Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero expressed his respect for the conduct of the event, saying it is not productive and helpful "to throw nor address questions or issues which seek to diminish a much needed call for peace and unity in our country at this time."

"A prayer rally for peace and unity in the country, I believe, is non-debatable. Who wouldn’t want that?" the senator said.

"I surely want that and a huge majority of our people as well, whether they are physically present at the prayer rally today or not, are demanding for nothing less among our leaders at the very least," he added.

Senator Imee Marcos also shared the same sentiment, saying that the prayer rally "is not against the separation between the Church and the State" and in fact, sanctioned by the Constitution.

For his part, Senator Bong Go supported INC's call for peace and unity in the country.

"Magkaisa tayo para makapagtrabaho na tayo nang maayos para sa bayan at makapagserbisyo sa kapwa natin Pilipino lalo na sa mga mahihirap dahil marami pong mga kababayan natin ang nangangailangan ng tulong," Go said in a statement.

(Let us unite so we can go back to work and help our fellow Filipinos, especially the poor because they need help.)

"Hangad natin ay hindi lang ang pagkakaisa sa kabila ng anumang isyung pulitikal.  Hangad din natin ang mapayapang pamumuhay," he added.

(Our hope is not just unity despite political differences. Our hope is a peaceful life.)

The lawmaker  said that problems such as public health, hunger, joblessness, education, and criminality could be addressed if the people are united.

"Naniniwala po ako na sama-sama nating matutugunan ang lahat ng ito kung lagi nating uunahin ang interes ng bayan at kapakanan ng ating kapwa lalo na ang pinakanangangailangan," he said.

(I believe that we can address these problems as one if we will always put the interest of the public and the welfare of our fellow Filipinos first.)

‘Not a time for impeachment’

Meanwhile, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said that now is not the right time to push for the impeachment of the Vice President.

“No less than the President ang nananawagan diba? So makiisa tayo sa panawagan ng ating Pangulo… huwag muna ‘yang impeachment and harapin muna ang mas mga urgent problems na kinakaharap ng ating bansa,” he said in an ambush interview at Quirino Grandstand.

(No less than the President is calling for it, right? So let's join the call of our President... Let’s stop the impeachment moves first and address the more urgent problems first of our country.)

For his part, Senator Robin Padilla said that he will vote “no” should the impeachment complaint reach the Senate from the House of Representatives.

“Definitely. Siguro naman napaka-plastic ko naman kung sasabihin ko sa inyo na kapag ‘yan ay umakyat sa Senado, ay magiisip pa kayo kung ano ang iboboto ko. Definitely, ako ay pabor sa sinasabi ng ating Pangulo. Ako ay pabor sa ating Pangalawang Pangulo,” he said in a separate ambush interview.

(Definitely. I would be insincere if the impeachment complaint comes up to the Senate and you still have to guess what I'll vote for. Definitely, I am in favor of what our President has said. I am in favor of our Vice President.)

Senator Francis Tolentino also underscored the importance of peace and unity.

“Hindi naman ito tungkol sa impeachment, ito’y panawagan ng kapayapaan at pagkakaisa,” he said.

This is not about the impeachment. This is about peace and unity.)

Go also called on government leaders to unite and get back to work for the sake of the Filipino people.

“Ako naman po ever since, even during the time of former president Rodrigo Duterte, I am for peace. Matagal akong nag-trabaho sa kanya. Gusto ko po ng kapayapaan—-peace on earth, peace in our country para makapagtrabaho na po tayo,” he said in an ambush interview.

(Ever since, even during the time of former president Rodrigo Duterte, I am for peace. I worked for him for a long time. I want peace—-peace on earth, peace in our country so that we can get back to work.)

“Bawat oras, bawat minuto na nasasayang sa hindi pagkakaunawaan, ang magsasakripisyo po ang taong bayan,” he added.

(Our people have to suffer every hour, every minute that is wasted due to these disagreements.)

As of 12 noon today, the Philippine National Police said around 1.8 million INC members joined the peace rallies across the country.

The INC program started at 8 a.m. at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila and other sites in different regions: 

• Sports Complex in Ilagan City
• Provincial Capitol in Palawan
• Sawangan Park in Legazpi City 
• Freedom Grandstand in Bacolod City
• Ormoc City Plaza in Leyte 
• South Road Properties (SRP) Grounds in Cebu City
• Pagadian City Proper in Zamboanga del Sur
• Plaza Divisoria in Cagayan de Oro City
• San Pedro Square in Davao City
• Butuan Sport Complex in Agusan del Norte

Malacañang on Monday expressed hope that the INC’s “National Rally for Peace” would bring clarity to the issues that the country faces at present.

In a statement, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said that to peaceably assemble is a “bedrock right,” which is guaranteed by the 1987 Constitution, cherished by the people, and consistently upheld by the Marcos administration.

“We view today’s assemblies as part of the national conversation we should be having as a people to bring clarity and consensus on issues that face us all and affect our future,” he said. —RF, GMA Integrated News