MANILA, Philippines – Dapat pag-isipang mabuti ng mga politiko ang pagsuporta sa impeachment ni Vice President Sara Duterte sa isasagawang peace rally ng Iglesia ni Cristo bukas, Enero 13, ayon kay Senador Sherwin Gatchalian.
Tinukoy niya ang kahalagahan na makuha ang suporta ng naturang relihiyon, na kilala sa bloc voting tuwing eleksyon.
Sa datos ng pamahalaan, ang INC ay mayroong 2.8 milyong followers, ngunit hindi pa tukoy kung ilan sa kanila ang rehistrado.
Kasalukuyang mayroong tatlong impeachment complaints laban kay Duterte sa Kamara.
Kabilang sa mga reklamo ang culpable violation ng Konstitusyon, betrayal of public trust, graft at corruption, bribery at iba pang krimen.
“First of all, this is a good reminder that we must set aside politics and focus on the most pressing problems of the country,” ani Gatchalian sa isang panayam.
“If the message is ‘set aside politics and support the President’s pronouncement,’ I think many will think twice, especially among local officials, because we all know that INC’s support is a very important aspect of the campaign,” dagdag pa niya.
“I think many (politicians) will hesitate (to support the impeachment complaints against Duterte) because it’s now the period of election campaign.”
Matapos ang pahayag ng Pangulo noong nakaraang taon na nagsabing tutol siya sa impeachment laban kay Duterte, inanunsyo ng INC ang plano nitong rally bilang suporta sa kanyang panawagan.
“The INC would like to see people like the Vice President and the President work together. That is the essence of good government,” ayon kay Sagip Rep. Rodante Marcoleta.
“It’s a rally for peace, that’s all,” aniya, sabay sabing “I think the INC wants to send a message across the nation that peace is a factor in achieving development and progress in this country … because INC believes that peace can only be achieved by uniting our people, and this unity can be best demonstrated by our leaders.”
Nang tanungin kung sino ang sinusuportahan ng INC, kung si Marcos ba o si Duterte, sinabi ni Marcoleta na ang INC ay neutral.
“There was no pronouncement made to that effect,” aniya.
Sinabi naman ni Kabataan Rep. Raoul Manuel na masusubukan ang bloc voting power ng INC sa May midterm polls.
“Actually, this is more of a call to action, and also a call to reflection for the members of the INC, in the hope that their individual decisions and their call of conscience will prevail based on what Jesus Christ really wants to teach [us],” sinabi ni Manuel.
Kinwestyon din niya ang nosyon ng kapayapaan ng INC na nagbibigay-daan lamang umano sa mga politiko para sumuway sa accountability.
“I think it comes from a fake notion of peace … especially when there are grounds for impeachment against the Vice President,” ani Manuel.
“Everyone, INC or not, is affected by the services [and actions] of public officials,” dagdag pa.
Ang peace rally ng INC ay isasagawa bukas, Enero 13 sa iba’t ibang lugar sa bansa kabilang ang Metro Manila. RNT/JGC
