"Ipaglaban mo nang puspusan ang pananampalataya. Panghawakan mong mabuti ang buhay na walang hanggan, dahil diyan ka tinawag ng Diyos nang ipahayag mo sa harap ng maraming saksi ang iyong pananalig kay Cristo." I Tim. 6:12
Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts

May 28, 2012

Iglesia ni Cristo is not, will not and never lobbied senators for CJ Corona


Iglesia ni Cristo is AGAIN and always been drag in controversies in the government. Now, the latest issue is that the INC is lobbying for CJ Corona's acquittal. Wow, politics is really DIRTY, and the media is desperate on linking the Church, which will not have any benefits if it really does that, to the impeachment of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Is this all TRUE?

Ofcourse the answer is NO.
But for nonmembers who dont want the TRUTH, they will say YES.

Lets find out.


Senators deny Iglesia ni Cristo lobbying for Corona acquittal

March 5, 2012

Several senators on Monday denied that the influential Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) approached them to lobby for the acquittal of Chief Justice Renato Corona.
In separate interviews, Senators Panfilo Lacson, Antonio Trillanes IV, and Gregorio Honasan belied former Senate President Ernesto Maceda's claim that the Iglesia ni Cristo is courting senators into voting against Corona's conviction.
Corona's lead defense counsel, former Associate Justice Serafin Cuevas, is a prominent member of the religious group.

In an article posted on the Manila Times website Monday, Maceda said some senators had admitted to him that the Iglesia ni Cristo was lobbying for Corona's acquittal. The article did not identify the senators who had supposedly made such an admission to Maceda.
“They [Iglesia ni Cristo] are quite influential and believe me, their influence in the minds of a senator is not only for a senator running for re-election in 2013 but in a senator aspiring for president or vice president in 2016,” the article quoted Maceda as saying.
To which, Lacson said: "Wala naman [akong alam]. Ako malapit sa INC pero wala pa as of now, wala pang sinasabi, wala pang nagpapahiwatig so I don't believe so."
Trillanes and Honasan likewise denied having any personal knowledge of any attempts.
"Sa akin personally wala pa. Lahat naman pinapakinggan natin pero it doesnt mean na magpapa-impluwensya tayo," Trillanes said.
For his part, Honasan said: "Walang attempt, walang lumalapit, wala akong personal knowledge."

Look deeper?
Still, Honasan said that if Maceda had given such information, then they must look into it.
"Pag si former SP Maceda ang nagsalita, I guess we have to look deeper. I’m not implying anything... but if Sen. Maceda has information, then I guess we have to listen," he said.
"Hindi sapat na magkaron ng ganitong allegation dahil seryoso 'yan. In the same manner na yung sinabi ng defense na ginagapang ng Malacañang yung ibang senator-judges, ganun din context nyan," Honasan added.
Corona's camp had also earlier accused Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. of urging senator-judges not to honor the Supreme Court order stopping them from examining Corona's dollar accounts.
Jose Roy, one of the defense lawyers, even claimed that Malacañang had allotted P100 million for the "soft" projects of each senator-judge from the government's savings.
Ochoa and several senators have since denied the accusation.
Honasan said he doubts the senators would be influenced by Iglesia ni Cristo's command votes if ever the news were true.
"Naniniwala ako na on the whole, we will all be very impartial, very objective," he said.
The terms of Senators Trillanes, Honasan, Lacson, Edgardo Angara, Joker Arroyo, Alan Peter Cayetano, Francis Escudero, Loren Legarda, Francis Pangilinan, Koko Pimentel, and Manny Villar will expire in 2013.
But Angara, Joker, Lacson, Pangilinan, and Villar are already on their second terms so they can't seek re-election.
Only Escudero, Legarda, Pimentel, and Trillanes have declared that they will seek re-election in 2013. Cayetano and Honasan, meanwhile, have yet to make any announcement. — Kimberly Jane Tan/RSJ/KBK/HS, GMA News
source: gmanetwork.com

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Iglesia ni Cristo member denounce lobby report

MANILA — Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) votes as a herd in elections, but it never dips its fingers in politics, a member of the religious sect said yesterday.
Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, an INC follower, said he was “offended” and “outraged” by the Philippine Daily Inquirer’s report on Saturday that INC officials had been seeing senators to lobby for the acquittal of impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona.
“Except to vote as one during elections in accordance with our fundamental beliefs, we do not intervene in politics, and it is offensive to say otherwise,” said Topacio, a lawyer for Jose Miguel Arroyo, husband of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Topacio said that while he was not authorized to speak for INC, “I believe I speak for most of the brethren who are outraged that the church was placed in a bad light on the basis of unsubstantiated rumors. We wished that the Inquirer would have left the church out of the disinformation and psychological warfare campaigns being waged in connection with the Corona impeachment trial.”
The Inquirer reported that INC officials Dan Orosa and Resty Lazaro had met discreetly with Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada during the month-long Lenten break of Congress to plead the case of Corona, whom INC followers supported.
A legislative source told the Inquirer that two other associates—Manny Cuevas and Victor Cheng—had been requesting to meet with other senators in recent days to lobby them for Corona’s acquittal. /INQUIRER
source: inquirer.net
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Iglesia ni Cristo lobby doubted
It’s a suprise. It’s not surprising. A trick. Anyway, we are not bothered. So, ignore it. But whatever neither-here-nor-there reactions to the reported high-powered Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) lobby in the Senate to acquit Chief Justice Renato Corona, one thing is clear: The reactors do not want to be on the wrong side of the politically influential INC.
Malacañang wouldn’t be surprised if certain people affiliated with the INC would lobby for the acquittal of Corona.
But a senior adviser to President Benigno Aquino III doubts that the lobbying would have the approval of the religious group’s leadership.
Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, a political adviser to the President, said the administration expected Corona to use every political tool available—even collect on past political debts—to influence senators as his impeachment trial neared its end.
“The impeachment trial is essentially a political process that is being played out in a highly charged political context,” Abad, a member of the President’s Liberal Party, said in a text message to the Inquirer.
“We expect CJ Rene Corona to be using all available political levers, even calling upon political debts, to try to influence the senators,” Abad said.
Asked if the administration had information of INC leaders trying to influence senators into pushing for Corona’s acquittal, Abad said, “Because it is common knowledge that the INC in the past has wielded its political clout in the arena of politics, that development will not be surprising.”
He went on: “But it was only until the [Philippine Daily Inquirer] came out with the report that we came to know, particularly of the alleged attempts by certain INC personalities to influence the senators. And even if that were true we also are not sure if those moves are in fact sanctioned by the INC hierarchy.”
Just a trick
Presidential adviser on political affairs Ronald Llamas said the lobbying was just a trick to pressure the senators into acquitting Corona.
But Llamas said the senators would not allow themselves to be pressured. And the government does not believe the INC would “allow itself to be used for political purposes,” Llamas said in a text message.
A legislative source told the Inquirer that INC officials Dan Orosa and Resty Lazaro approached senators during the Lenten break of Congress.
Manny Cuevas and Victor Cheng have also been mentioned as continuing the lobby when the impeachment trial resumed in early May. Manny Cuevas was earlier erroneously identified as the brother of Corona’s lead defense counsel, Serafin Cuevas, who is an Iglesia member.
Not bothered
Abad said he was not bothered by the supposed Iglesia lobby. He said he was confident that the senators would see the overwhelming evidence against the Chief Justice and vote to convict him.
“Remember, the overwhelming message in the 2010 elections that catapulted the Aquino administration to power was stop corruption and hold those who committed graft and corruption with impunity accountable to the people,” Abad said.
“The evidence so far gathered by the prosecution under Article 2 are enough, in my view, to convict Corona,” Abad said. “But the startling revelations of Ombudsman [Conchita] Carpio Morales on Corona’s dollar transactions based on [Anti-Money Laundering Council] documents have sealed Corona’s fate,” he added.
Article 2 of the House’s impeachment complaint against Corona involves his failure to disclose his statements of assets, liabilities and net worth.
Morales, summoned by the impeachment court as a hostile witness on the request of the defense, last week presented AMLC documents detailing movements in multimillion-dollar deposits in 82 bank accounts allegedly owned by Corona.
“With the intolerant attitude being displayed by our people against corruption and the overwhelming evidence now before the Senate, I don’t see how the senators can ignore these,” Abad said.
Clarify issues
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Malacañang expected the senators to shed light on the reported Iglesia lobbying.
In an interview over state-run radio station dzRB, Valte said senators usually use breaks during the impeachment trial to clarify certain issues.
“Let’s see when the trial resumes on Tuesday if the senators will take the time to answer this particular item,” Valte.
Some of the senators would not wait until then to speak. They began talking on Friday, saying no lobbying by any group could sway them to vote for or against Corona.
Senators Aquilino Pimentel III, Vicente Sotto III, Gregorio Honasan II, Panfilo Lacson, Loren Legarda, Franklin Drilon, Francis Pangilinan and Ralph Recto said they had not been approached by Iglesia ni Cristo. Some of them doubted the INC would “stoop so low.”
“Any lobbying is useless,” Pimentel told the Inquirer by phone. “I’m very vocal and publicly stated that I will decide on evidence. Lobbying can’t change evidence. They have to refute evidence by better evidence.”
Lacson agreed: “Even if true, I trust that a great majority of senator-judges will be guided by what the prosecution and the defense panels have presented and will present, and how we will appreciate those pieces of evidence.”
More than the lobbying by groups, Corona’s forthrightness on assets that he did not declare in his statements of assets, liabilities and net worth would help his cause, Drilon said.
UNA targeted
The Iglesia lobby reportedly targeted members of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) of Vice President Jejomar Binay and former President Joseph Estrada.
The legislative source claimed that the INC’s Orosa and Lazaro met with Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile in Cagayan, and Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada in Manila. Enrile declined to be interviewed. Senator Estrada said he had not been approached.
Sotto, the Senate majority leader said it wasn’t surprising for any group from both sides to approach senators, as the impeachment trial is political.
“Whether true or not, whether Malacañang is also talking to prosecutors or senators or not, it’s all part of the political character of the impeachment,” Sotto said by phone. “You can’t prevent groups or persons from lobbying,” he said.
“For all you know, their name (INC) is only being used,” Sotto added.
Honasan said the reports of lobbying were “unfair” to both the INC and the senators, and distract from the trial.
“I think it’s a form of disrespect to the Iglesia and the senator-judges,” Honasan said by phone. “We must presume good faith in everyone. There were insinuations like this before about the attempts by Malacañang to influence judges by offering development projects.”

Ignore it
Honasan said the reports should be ignored because they “destroy concentration and detract from what should be the focus: the continued search for truth and justice.”
All the senators sought for comment by the Inquirer said they had not been approached by the INC.
“I have not been approached,” Lacson said in a text message. “I don’t think the INC leadership will stoop down and hit the gutter in an impeachment trial where moral fitness in such an exalted position in government is on trial.”
Sotto admitted talking with an INC official a few months ago but on the reproductive health bill.
And neither were Honasan, Drilon, Pangilinan, Recto and Legarda approached about Corona’s case.
“I have not been approached by the INC or the Palace to influence my vote in the trial,” Honasan said. “I don’t think the senator-judges should give this too much attention. We’re looking forward to the appearance of the Chief Justice.”
Corona will testify in his own defense on Tuesday.
Pangilinan said this could be “all speculation” and declined further comment.
Recto said he was “surprised” by the reports.
Drilon said: “I can state for a fact I was not approached.”
Pangilinan, Recto and Drilon are members the Liberal Party.
Legarda said she would rather “assess” the evidence and wait for Corona’s testimony on Tuesday.
House Deputy Speaker Lorenzo Tañada III, spokesperson of the prosecution panel, also doubted the INC would try to influence the verdict in Corona’s trial.
“I don’t think the INC will do that,” Tañada said by phone. “It will be unfair to the senator-judges. The senator-judges would want to base their decision on the evidence presented,” he said.
Tañada said he thought the INC was just an “observer like everyone else.” He said he believed the INC would look at the evidence presented and would base its stance on these. With reports from TJ Burgonio and Leila B. Salaverri
source: inquirer.net

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Bakit desperadong ikinakabit ang Iglesia ni Cristo kay Corona (Prelude ba ito?)

SA simula pa lamang ng impeachment trial kay SC Chief Justice Renato Corona, pumutok na ang ‘tsismis’ na nags0-SHOW OF FORCE raw ang kapatiran ng Iglesia ni Cristo (INC).

Ikinabakabit pa nga ito kay dating Justice Secretary Serafin Cuevas, na ngayon ay defense team chief ni Corona.

Maging ang malalaking BIBLE EXPOSITION ng INC ay pinagdudahang pagpapakita raw ng suporta kay Corona.

Noong araw, may kasabihan (pasintabi po) … “ang duling daw walang gawang magaling …”

Pero ngayon mas paniwalaan natin kapag sinabing … “ang PRANING wala lalong gagawin magaling …”

Jokingkly aside dear readers, ngayon natin napagtatanto na ang mga kapraningan na ‘yan ay tila PRELUDE sa nalalapit na pagwawakas ng impeachment trial.

Bakit natin nasasabi ito?

Aba naman, lumabas dalawang araw magkasunod sa isang ‘mahabang’ d’yaryo ang istorya hinggil sa ‘LOBBYING’ o GAPANGAN umano ng INC sa ilang senator judges kaugnay ng magiging VERDICT kay Corona.

Ang ATRIBUSYON ng nasabing istorya ay isang ‘CONGRESSIONAL SOURCE’ kuno na ayaw ipabanggit ang pangalan dahil “lack of authority to speak on the matter.”

Pwede bang ang salin n’yan sa Filipino ay KULANG-KULANG sa kapangyarihan?! Hak hak hak!

Simple lang ang tanong natin, bakit ba laging ikinakabit ang INC d’yan sa impeach trial na ‘yan?!

Llamado na kayo, hindi na kailangan gumawa pa ng ganyan istorya!

Lahat na lang ng ginagawang pagtitipon ng INC ay ikinakabait sa impeachment ni Corona.

Buti na lang hindi nila ikinonek ang INC sports unity event d’yan sa Impeachment!?

‘E bakit ‘yung mga pagtitipon ng El Shaddai, Jesus is Lord at ng CBCP, hindi nila napagdidiskatahan?

Napaghahalata tuloy na ang administrasyon na ito ay mainit sa INC … dahil ba sa Corona issue?

Inuulit lang po natin, huwag magpakapraning sa Corona impeachment!

Ay sus!

source: hatawtabloid.com

January 21, 2012

INC on Arroyo, Corona and INC lawyers


Never ending issues being thrown to INC even though the church has nothing to do with politics. INC is always mentioned when there are members who are government officials, are joined in controversies. For example, Bro. Cerafin Cuevas, a member of the church, decided to help Renato Corona on the impeachment, here are the reporters/media and gossipers who conclude that the INC is also supporting Corona...

While we, cannot notice any news that the religion of non INC lawyers are being mentioned in the news when controversies came.

Why is it that media is so UNFAIR when they are reporting news related to the INC or INC members? Does a member represents the church as a whole? So, if a catholic lawyer would support Corona, does that mean the Roman Catholic Church also supports Corona?

INC Government officials are just members, they are not REPRESENTATIVES of the INC. The INC do not meddle on politics. If INC have a stand about a particular issue, then the statement should come from Bro. Bienvenido Santiago INC spokesman, or direct from the church administration or maybe through the Representative of Alagad Partylist.


Common sense please...



Ill just post the malicious news from the web associating the church with the INC government officials and an interesting article of a member of the church about profession and religion...


Arroyo join forces with Iglesia ni Cristo


THROW in religion and perhaps my enemy would have second thoughts in seemingly trying to make a martyr of me.
This could have crossed the mind of former President and now Rep. Gloria Arroyo of Pampanga province when her camp officially announced late this week that she had hired the legal services of Artemio Tuquero—an Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) member and Justice chief of the Estrada administration—to defend her from charges of electoral sabotage filed by the government.

Tuquero was short-listed for the position of Ombudsman but President Benigno Aquino 3rd appointed retired Supreme Court (SC) Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales.

He was appointed as a member of the Judicial and Bar Council but was later on not reappointed by President Aquino and was replaced by lawyer Jose Mejia as the JBC representative for the academe.

Tuquero said that his being the former president’s lawyer had everything to do with the legal profession.

“Being a lawyer for GMA (Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo) has nothing to do with my religion,” he explained.

According to sources of The Manila Times, the Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ) and President Aquino are engaged in a “cold war” over his allegedly making negative remarks against the politically influential religious group.

The INC endorsed then-Sen. Aquino as its official candidate in the May 2010 presidential race but was said to be ignored later when the senator won.

The INC is known for its block-voting policy and many politicians seek its endorsement in every election.

The only INC member who still holds the job given him by Mr. Aquino is Director Magtanggol Gatdula of the National Bureau of Investigation.

The relationship between the INC and Malacañang even became more sour after Rep. Niel Tupas of Iloilo province, the chairman of the House justice committee, disclosed that the church was helping then-Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez in her move to junk an impeachment complaint against her before the House of Representatives.

Gutierrez then was represented by another INC member—former Supreme Court (SC) Justice Sera-fin Cuevas.

Mrs. Arroyo and husband, lawyer Jose Miguel Arroyo and several others are facing poll-sabotage charges before the Department of Justice (DOJ) for allegedly manipulating results of the 2004 elections for senators.

During preliminary investigation on Thursday, Tuquero made a manifestation, saying that they will file the appropriate motion before the DOJ and the Commission on Elections (Comelec), which are jointly hearing the charges against the Arroyos and the others who are accused.

He questioned the impartiality of the DOJ-Comelec panel in the conduct of the preliminary investigation, saying that he was worried that the right to due process of his client would be violated.

Tuquero said that there might already be a pre-judgment of the case based on earlier pronouncements of the DOJ and the Comelec that some individuals would be charged in court in connection with the alleged election fraud.

Once the joint panel dismissed the motion, Tuquero said that they will file a petition before the Supreme Court seeking to stop the ongoing investigation.

The camp of the respondents in the alleged election fraud were furnished with copies of the criminal complaint and a report of the fact-finding team and the complaint-affidavit of Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel 3rd.

The panel set the next hearing for November 14, 2011 before which the respondents will have submitted their counter- affidavits.


source: manilatimes.net


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83 year old veteran lawyer leads defense of Chief Justice in Impeachment Trial

MANILA, Philippines—The daunting task to prove the innocence of Chief Justice Renato Corona nearly caused his lead counsel to turn down his request to represent Corona in his impeachment trial in the Senate.
Serafin Cuevas, a retired Supreme Court justice, said he was reluctant to take on the challenge to defend Corona because of the physical demands of the job as lead counsel.
He said he also considered the several cases pending in the high tribunal that his law office had been handling.
“This is no ordinary case. I know I may have to stay in the Senate as late as 9 p.m. just to argue our point,” Cuevas told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
“I’m already 83 and I’m not getting any younger. I know this is a big burden for me,” he continued.
According to Cuevas, a high court official informed him that Corona had been looking for him after reports spread that the House would file the articles of impeachment against the chief justice.
He said he was actually “avoiding” talking with Corona since he knew that Corona would eventually convince him.
“When I visited the chief justice, he told me he wanted me to be his lead counsel because he saw me argue similar cases before,” Cuevas said.
“His wife (Ma. Cristina) wept when she spoke to me. So I consulted my family and they allowed me,” he continued.
The octogenarian lawyer said it took him two weeks to accept Corona’s invitation to lead a battery of over 30 seasoned litigation lawyers to prove his innocence.
He said his being a former associate of the Supreme Court also prompted him to be at the forefront in defending the institution.
Cuevas was appointed to the high court by the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos on June 1, 1984. But he resigned after a popular uprising ended the Marcos dictatorship two years later.
“The attacks were directed against the Supreme Court and it pains my heart being a former associate justice,” he said. “What they (House panel) were saying were not true. A chief justice cannot prevail over the members of the court.”
He also doused speculations that his decision to join Corona’s defense team was an indication that the chief justice had the support of the influential Iglesia ni Cristo.
Said Cuevas: “The perception of the people is that wherever Cuevas goes, there goes the Iglesia Ni Cristo. But I’m only a member of the church. I happen to be a chief legal counsel of the Iglesia. But I’m not a minister or a deacon.”
As lead counsel, Cuevas said he would conduct the cross-examination of all the prosecution witnesses that the House panel would present in the witness stand.

source: inquirer.net

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Our Profession, Our Religion
I actually just want to comment to how the people think about us, members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo.
Just recently, there was a news report saying that the Iglesia Ni Cristo is backing up former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on the electoral sabotage charges filed by the government against her.
Actually, there is no official statement of the INC about this. The church administration will inform us if the whole church needs to do a thing in unity.
What really happens is that the former President and now a Pampanga representative, hired the legal service of Atty. Artemeo Tuquero who is a member of the INC.
If you are open-minded, and not one of those who are persecuting the Iglesia Ni Cristo, you’ll understand that when we are doing our profession, the one who is involved here is the professional not the whole church. If Atty. Tuquero will serve as the attorney of Rep. Gloria Arroyo, it doesn’t mean that the whole Iglesia Ni Cristo will serve as attorney of the former president.
This is just the same to if Mrs. Arroyo will hire a lawyer who is a Catholic. You will not of course think that the whole Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines will serve as lawyer of the Mrs. Arroyo, just because his lawyer is a Catholic. Now, why then if her lawyer is a member of the Iglesia Ni Cristo the people would immediately think that the whole church, Iglesia Ni Cristo, is backing up Mrs. Arroyo?
Well. Actually, it’s not the first. A lot of times that people or non-members of the INC are treating us unfairly. If one of the members of the INC committed a mistake, people would consider that mistake of one member of the church as the mistake of the whole church. For example: If a member of the church committed murder, people especially those in the media would report that the Iglesia Ni Cristo committed murder.
However, if a Catholic or a Protestant committed murder, people or the media would NOT say that the Catholic or whatever the name of the church that he was a member of committed a crime, instead they would mention the name of the criminal.
Actually, I just couldn’t understand why people treat us like that. …

source: jmlaplana.com

September 20, 2011

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!

INC on Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez


Numerous articles from media came out when an ALLEGED report from Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas that the INC is supporting Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, that made many people give negative comments on the INC as "intervening" in the issue.

Here is an example of those reports:



MANILA, Philippines?All means are being exhausted to stop the looming impeachment of Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez in the House of Representatives lest former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo end up on trial, a senator said Sunday.
Ahead of this week?s vote, a high-ranking official of Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) had been calling House members to kill the impeachment complaint, according to Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr., chair of the justice committee.
?All efforts are being undertaken to abort the impeachment of Gutierrez because in effect it will be GMA (Arroyo) on trial,? Sen. Franklin Drilon said in an interview, referring to the former president, now a Pampanga lawmaker.
Drilon said the charges in the impeachment complaints?the P728-million fertilizer fund scam, the $329-million NBN-ZTE deal, and the Mega-Pacific contract?were linked to Arroyo, her husband Jose Miguel and their cronies.
?Even if it is Merceditas Gutierrez who will be the respondent in an impeachment, it will be in effect GMA on trial. All of the allegations are connected to her and her husband and her cronies,? said Drilon, a colleague of President Benigno Aquino III in the Liberal Party.
The House is set to vote in plenary this week on whether to approve the justice committee?s finding of probable cause to impeach Gutierrez and send the articles of impeachment to the Senate for trial.
Gutierrez has been accused of inaction on a number of cases, particularly the scandals that marred the Arroyo administration, and of betraying public trust and violating the Constitution.
A lawmaker, who asked not to be named, said Gutierrez appeared to have the backing of the INC.
INC lawyer
Proof of this was the fact that she was represented in the House by former Justice Secretary Serafin Cuevas, who acted as counsel for the INC a number of times, the lawmaker said.
?Serafin Cuevas indicates the hand of Iglesia ni Cristo. He is known to be the lawyer of Iglesia ni Cristo,? the lawmaker said. ?Merci has the full support of Iglesia.?
In the face of intense INC lobbying, members of the ruling Liberal Party remain positive of getting the one-third vote, albeit below the initial target of at least 150 votes or more than half of the House.
?The phone calls made by a high-ranking official of Iglesia ni Cristo to kill the impeachment case may affect the vote of some House members but we are still confident that we will get the required number of votes to send the articles of impeachment to the Senate for trial,? Tupas said in a text message.
A House source, who requested anonymity, said the INC was egging some lawmakers to call in sick or leave after the roll call.
?That?s a game changer. The evidence of that (INC intervention) is so manifest. Last week, the proponents were boasting of a slam dunk. Today, they are now prefiguring that the battle will be tight,? said Isabela Rep. Georgidi Aggabao of the Nationalist People?s Coalition.
Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Neri Colmenares, whose group is one of the complainants in the impeachment case, said the INC stand would have a minimal impact on the voting ?because it would be difficult for a congressman to be absent because all eyes are on us.?
Solon upset
Akbayan party-list Rep. Walden Bello was upset that the INC would intervene in the business of Congress.
?Why are religious blocs crossing the line dividing the church and state, the INC in the case of the impeachment issue and the (Catholic) Church on reproductive health? Can?t these pressure groups stay on the sidelines and allow Congress to do its work?? asked Bello, whose group is the second complainant in the case.
Zambales Rep. Milagros Magsaysay, a member of the minority, found nothing wrong with the INC?s intervention. ?Everyone is a stakeholder in this,? she said.
Cavite Rep. Joseph E.A. Abaya, a key Liberal Party official in the House, said the vote could ?go either way.?
Mr. Aquino?s deputy spokesperson, Abigail Valte, shrugged off reports that the Palace would withhold the pork barrel of lawmakers who would not support the impeachment of Gutierrez.
?It?s not the policy of the administration to use the pork barrel to sway (lawmakers) one way or the other,? Valte said. source: inquirer.net

But the question is: Does the alleged calls from a "high ranking" official of the INC to kill the impeachment TRUE? Did the INC really made the alleged "moves" on junking the impeachment case of the Ombudsman?

ANSWER: NO!


I will quote some:

"She refused to comment on the alleged protection given by the Iglesia ni Cristo, insisting that it was the black propaganda that brought her to where she is now." source: abscbnnews.com

“Maybe the INC just wants to remind Tupas that ours is still a government of laws and that hearings should be done with due process and that everybody should be afforded his right in accordance with the Constitution. In this way, lawmakers will at least be given a wake-up call,” said Davao del Sur Rep. Marc Douglas Cagas IV." source: journal.com


"PINABULAANAN ni Akbayan Party-list Representative Walden Bello ang balitang kumikilos ang Iglesia Ni Cristo upang hindi matuloy ang impeachment laban kay Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez.
Sa interview ng Radyo Mo Nationwide, sinabi ni Bello na may naririnig syang balita mula sa kanyang mga kapwa mambabatas na may nangyayaring gapangan mula sa nasabing grupo hinggil sa kaso ni Gutierrez sa nasabing grupo pero wala siyang personal na natanggap na abiso.
Hindi rin kinumpirma ni Bello ang balitang maging ang palasyo ay naghihimasok rin sa kaso ni Gutierrez." source: tatakrmn.com


“The Iglesia is following the issues in the House very closely because they are concerned that whatever decision that is made by the House affects the country,” said Marcoleta, the INC’s only member in the house.
“But it is never its policy to dictate on the House members. If indeed the calls were made, it was to urge the lawmakers and appeal to them to vote based on evidence, conviction and conscience.”
Marcoleta admitted that he, too, was asked by the Iglesia officials about the impeachment process, and if indeed there was “damning evidence” that could prove that Gutierrez “betrayed the public trust” as charged by rival leftist groups Akbayan and Bayan Muna in their impeachment complaints.
“I was reminded by the Iglesia that if I find damning evidence against Ombudsman Gutierrez and she is guilty of the charges, then I should vote for her impeachment,” Marcoleta said. source: manilastandardtoday.com

______________________________


As always, the INC was pushed in the bad light making nonmembers give opinions negatively about this. By these FALSE REPORTS from people who always want to pull the INC down, it is indeed VERY UNFAIR!

Even if the INC really support that Ombudsman, it is the INC's VOICE, its her OPINION, because the INC do not in anyway intervene in issues in POLITICS. Not what the Catholic Church is doing in the issue of RH BILL, what they do is undeniably called "INFLUENCING POLITICIANS".

To nonmembers who always accuse the INC of whatsoever they read on the news, VERIFY FIRST THE NEWS IF IT IS TRUE then, thats the only time for you all to make your OPINIONS!

As what Atty. Batas Mauricion said:


LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “…You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor…” (Exodus 20:16, the Holy Bible).


LAWMAKERS MUST APOLOGIZE TO INC: Now that the House of Representatives finally impeached Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, 212-46, and set her up for trial by the Senate on charges that she betrayed public trust, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman and Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas should both apologize publicly to the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC).

It appears that the INC, known for its political clout because of bloc voting among its members, should not have been dragged by the two, after all, in the House impeachment proceedings, for the simple reason that both of them knew there was no such move by INC leaders, officials and members, and yet they kept on repeating it.

Falsely saying something is a violation of the Ten Commandments of God, as indicated in our Life’s Inspirations, and that is what Lagman and Tupas appeared to have done with respect to their claims against the INC. source: batasmedia.yolasite.com