INC on impeachment of Gloria Arroyo (2005)

On searching again about the INC, i have read a news putting INC again in the bad light to the public. A politician again, accusing the INC about "intervening" on the issue of impeachment of former president Gloria Arroyo on September 2005. Even this is an old news, i always want to clear the name of the INC in issues on politics.
I was saddened by these news especially the INC do no really made the "moves" or actions on these issue that made the public again and again, make a bad impression to the INC.
Here is the report:

INC tipped balance for GMA, says solon
First posted 01:35am (Mla time) Sept 07, 2005
By Philip C. Tubeza, Gil C. Cabacungan Jr.
Inquirer News Service
PRESIDENT GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO might have implored divine intervention in the most serious political crisis of her four-year administration but it was the hand of the influential Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) that ensured that the impeachment process would be decided in her favor, administration officials said yesterday.
Albay Representative Joey Salceda said the INC tipped the balance in favor of the President when the religious sect decided to flex its muscles and called on members of the House of Representatives whom its flock helped get elected in 2004.
“The Iglesia came in at a crucial moment last week by putting the brakes on the signature campaign (by the pro-impeachment camp) just when it was starting to snowball,” Salceda said.
The President’s economic adviser noted that the common denominator among those who were absent or those who abstained from the voting was their debt of gratitude to the INC.
“The (INC) helped her (President Arroyo) not once, but twice,” said Salceda in reference to the crucial role played by the sect in Ms Arroyo’s victory over the king of Philippine movies, Fernando Poe Jr., in the 2004 elections.

Tears of joy

A Malacañang source confirmed the INC’s role in holding the fort for the President, who was grateful for the religious sect’s support.
“The President was brought close to joyous tears when she learned that it was Ka Erdie Manalo (INC’s spiritual leader) who was calling the lawmakers one by one,” the source said.
Salceda said that the INC was a prime believer in the status quo and that this was not an opportune time to be rocking the boat in the face of the crises facing the country.
But while the INC proved to be the President’s trump card, Salceda said the opposition should not look beyond itself for losing the impeachment battle because of their “big-ticket blunders.” source: ellentordesillas.com

The question is: Did the INC really have a role in junking the impeachment case of Ex. Pres. Gloria Arroyo?
ANSWER: NO!

Here it is:

Friday, October 14, 2005
Hortaleza: Salceda's gambit on Iglesia role
By Behn Fer. Hortaleza Jr.

WE'VE always believed manipulators are a dime-a dozen in this world. No, Representative Joey Salceda, the Bicol congressman, who has practically dragged the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) into President Arroyo's impeachment by claiming that the religious sect had convinced some would-be pro-impeachment congressmen either to vote No or just stay away from the exercise during the House justice committee vote may not be that manipulator. In all probability, somebody else fed him the dope that the INC indeed used its influence to "save" the President from her tormentors. Either that, or he's engaging in wishful thoughts and nothing more.

That Executive Minister Erano G. Manalo of the INC would take the trouble and stoop so low as to be personally calling up congressmen just to convince them to vote whatever way already taxes credulity; only a non-INC member like Salceda would believe a tall tale like that. In fact, we daresay, even the real manipulator wouldn't think of even buying that crap, granting that the manipulator really knew the character of Ka Erdie. What's this, a new "Hello, Congressman..." version of that controversial wiretap?

The more plausible reason why such a crap was ever foisted on the public is that someone had wanted to pit the INC against the Catholic church by so timing the congressman's "news" with another expose on the bishops' receiving Pagcor "sin money" for their projects. Good guy-bad guy gambit, a favorite investigative tactic of the police to make a suspect talk. The INC becomes a savior, a "good guy" while the Catholic church is made to look like a "bad guy" - all in the dirty name of politics.

The truth is, and many Filipinos believe this, something much more convincing than any church leader's persuasive appeal, swayed many congressmen's votes for the saving of the president. The party line, and whatever unspoken but vicarious benefit that goes with it, was of course the main reason for the "overwhelming rejection" in the House of the doomed impeachment move. No one can deny that the House is one big, political den and everyone who watched the House justice committee proceedings on TV and saw the strident defense of the President by the administration coalition allies instantly knew where the wind would blow, come the nominal voting.

Until and unless the INC, thru its duly authorized spokesmen, decides to dignify Salceda's news on the sect's alleged role in the thrashing of the impeachment complaint - which we honestly don't think is forthcoming, going by the INC's reclusive attitude on such mundane issues - we can all just treat the Bicol lawmaker's foray into crystal ball-gazing as just that: amusement. source: network54.com

Now i can conclude that POLITICS is really DIRTY. That some took advantage of accusing and claiming that the INC always intervene in politics especially the INC is not always "giving attention" to these malicious claims of those politicians.

INC was again put to bad light, and it is indeed UNFAIR!