EDITORIAL — Awkward position

Yesterday was the second day of three-day anti-corruption protest of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) in the capital.

As of this writing, the Manila Public Information Office estimated around 180,000 individuals gathered at the Quirino Grandstand, with even more expected to come for the last day of the rally today.

Organizers have insisted the protest is about corruption in the flood-control projects and isn’t about politics. On the first day of their protests they even refused entry to pro-Duterte groups Reforma Filipina and Hakbang ng Maisug that came to join their protest because they brought placards calling for the resignation of the president and the death penalty for government officials found guilty of corruption.

The two pro-Duterte groups had no choice but to take their protest to the Liwasang Bonifacio where around 2,000 of them converged.

In this instance, corruption in the flood-control issue is one thing and the call for the resignation of some officials is another. It’s good that the INC rally organizers were able to distinguish between the two and refused entry to those who wanted to join their protest but call for other outcomes.

But then again, it might not be because the INC wants to keep their protest non-partisan. After all, the INC endorsed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during the last presidential elections.

They also endorsed Marcos’ running mate, Vice President Sara Duterte, so it must not have been an easy decision to refuse entry to the pro-Duterte groups that came to join their rally.

We imagine the INC being in a rather awkward position; both the candidates they endorsed are now at each other’s throats. Not to mention each is facing accusations of corruption. That’s why right now it cannot afford to be political and call out either Marcos or Duterte, or raise one of them above the other, but just call for an end to corruption without mentioning where it comes from or who is responsible.

The fact that two of the senators they endorsed are now being linked to the flood-control issue isn’t helping either.

But all that aside, the INC is known to be a force to reckon with come elections; let’s see if their influence can actually help bring those who are corrupt to jail.