MANILA, Philippines - The religious sect Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) released sample ballots to its members endorsing the candidacy of seven senatorial candidates from the administration-led Team PNoy and five bets from the opposition United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).
Among those endorsed, reliable sources said, were Aurora Rep. Sonny Angara, President Aquino’s cousin Bam Aquino, former Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar, Grace Poe and re-electionist Senators Loren Legarda, Alan Cayetano and Antonio Trillanes.
Among the UNA candidates who made it to the INC list were Vice President Jejomar Binay’s daughter Nancy, former senator Richard Gordon, San Juan Rep. JV Ejercito, Cagayan Rep. Jack Enrile, and re-electionist Sen. Gregorio Honasan.
INC insiders revealed the ministers did not make any formal announcement during their weekly worship, but a separate source said the sample ballots were farmed out late Wednesday to local churches all over the country.
At the same time, INC also released the list of seven party-list groups it is supporting.
They are: Citizens Battle Against Corruption (Cibac), Buhay Hayaang Yumabong (Buhay), Arts Business and Science Professionals (ABS), Alliance of Volunteer Educators (AVE), Anti-Crime and Terrorism thru Community Involvement & Support (ACT-CIS), the Social Amelioration and Genuine Intervention on Poverty (1-SAGIP) and Aagapay sa Matatanda (AMA).
Iglesia insiders said the sample ballots were given to members on a house-to-house basis and members were asked to sign a document attesting that they received their copies.
Evangelist Pastor Apollo Quiboloy of the Jesus Christ The Name Above Every Name congregation also endorsed six senatorial candidates of Team PNoy, five Senate bets of UNA and one independent bet.
Quiboloy announced in Davao City that he is endorsing re-electionist Senators Legarda and Francis Escudero, Aquino, Villar, Angara and Poe of TeamPNoy.
Those from UNA that Quiboloy picked were former senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, Ejercito, Enrile, Gordon and Binay.
Quiboloy also expressed support for independent Senate bet Palawan City Mayor Edward Hagedorn.
– With Edith Regalado