Court asks legal bodies for help on religious groups endorsing politicians

The Philippine Constitutional Assembly (Philconsa), Integrated Bar of the Philipines (IBP) and Solicitor General (SolGen) were asked to help the court look over the petition of a lawyers’ group to stop religious leaders from endorsing politicians.

In an order, Manila Judge Concepcion Vergara of Regional Trial Court Branch 49 appointed members of Philconsa, IBP and Solicitor General Alfredo Benipayo to participate in the hearings of the case filed by the Social Justice Society (SJS) in connection with the endorsement of politicians by religious groups.

Religious leaders Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin, Iglesia ni Cristo Executive Minister Eraño Manalo, El Shaddai servant leader Mike Velarde, Jesus is Lord Fellowship head Eddie Villanueva and Ang Dating Daan head Eli Soriano has asked the court to junk the SJS petition.

"In connection with the motion to dismiss (the SJS case), Philconsa, IBP and SolGen (were) appointed as amicus curae (friends of the court) to aid the court to put up impartiality or argument, pieces of evidence and authorities within one month," Vergara said. Philconsa, IBP and SolGen can also come to court and shall be served with notices whenever the case shall be set for hearing or oral argument, Vergara said.

SJS president Samson Alcantara said religious endorsement of candidates is violative of the spirit of the constitutional provisions. Aside from endorsement, SJS also wants clarification particularly on practice of religious leaders urging or requiring the members of his flock to vote a particular candidate.