Got a tip? Send it to us at manila@coconuts.co.
Vice President Jejomar Binay sent his greetings to the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) on Sun, Jul 26, on the occasion of its 101st anniversary on Mon, Jul 27, amid controversies surrounding the religious group.
In a statement released Sunday, Binay said, “Kabiyak ng buhay ay pagsubok. Sa loob ng 101 taon, nakita natin ang iba’t-ibang uri ng pagsubok na sumalubong at nagpatatag sa Pinagpalang Kawan.”
“Sa salita ng inyong Mahal na Tagapamahalang Pangkalahatan, ang Kapatid na Eduardo V. Manalo, ang mga pagsubok na kinakaharap ay ‘dadalisay, magpapatatag, at magpapalago ng pananampalataya,’” he added.
The Vice President also noted that the acts of charity by the INC members should serve as an example for everyone to help out those in need.
Binay said he believes the INC members can firmly hold on to their faith and the teachings of their church in the face of the issues that have been hounding them recently.
“Nananalig ako na ito ang magdadala ng walang patid na mga pagpapalang inyong matatanggap – mga pagpapalang inyong ibinabalik sa inyong kapuwa bilang mga katuwang sa paglilingkod ng sambayanang Pilipino,” he said.
The INC has been making headlines since Thursday when it expelled Cristina “Tenny” Manalo, the widow of INC’s former executive minister Eraño “Erdy” Manalo, and their son, Felix Nathaniel “Angel.”
In a press conference, INC General Evangelist Bienvenido Santiago said the INC leadership decided to expel the two from the general membership of the INC after they appeared in a YouTube video claiming their lives are in danger and that some ministers have allegedly been abducted.
Throughout the years, come election season, candidates of all positions have trooped to INC leaders to ask for the influential religious group’s endorsement.
INC members are known to practice bloc voting. It means that all members vote for a particular candidate chosen by church leaders.
In 2010, the INC officially endorsed the Liberal Party tandem of Senators Benigno Aquino III and Manuel Roxas II.
Vice-President Binay has said he intends to run for the presidency in the 2016 elections.
Photo: News clip
This article has been re-published with permission from ABS-CBNnews.com.
