At around noon on Friday, April 29, journalist Edu Punay tweeted that the INC has not made an official decision on who to endorse as VP and that the sect leaders are still in the process of making a decision.
This came after PhilStar reported that vice presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s camp has confirmed the official endorsement of the often block-voting Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), as reported by PhilStar.
INC was said to have informed Marcos about their endorsement on Tuesday, April 26, but the senator has remained mum about it. It can be recalled that the religious sect also supported former President Ferdinand Marcos during the 1986’s snap election against former President Cory Aquino.
An INC source was also said to have claimed that the second largest religious group in the Philippines will also support senatorial candidates Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez and former MMDA chief Francis Tolentino.
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Rappler reported that Marcos was indeed invited by INC head Eduardo Manalo on April 26 for a chat.
When asked on Wednesday, April 27, during a gathering of the press, Marcos said that he went to chat with Manalo about many things, but that it is up to the church to make the announcement. He added, “Kung ano man ang kanilang decision ay ating ipapaubaya sa kanila.”
Presidential candidates Vice President Jejomar Binay, Senator Grace Poe, Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, and Manuel Roxas III also sought a meeting with Manalo earlier, in contrast to how Marcos was invited by the INC leader.
Another vice presidential candidate, Senator Francis Escudero, was said to have met Manalo too when he tagged along Sen. Poe during her meeting with the religious head.
Rumors about INC’s endorsement have been going around online as several INC members have been posting a photo of Marcos along with the hashtag #OneWithEVM.
Without an official endorsement from the INC just yet, we just have to wait and see who the estimated bloc vote of at least 1 million will be cast for this May 9.
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