PH
Former Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) minister Lowell Menorca II criticized the religious group's practice of bloc voting in a teaser for his interview with Henry Omaga-Diaz, released on Sunday, May 11.
"Because of the bloc voting of the Church, it opened the door for unscrupulous people to exploit the unity of the unsuspecting Church members," Menorca said, accusing political figures and INC leaders of engaging in quid pro quo arrangements. "It is no longer about God. It is now about vested interests, political influence and greed and power and money."
Menorca claimed that more INC members are beginning to question the direction of the Church and its entanglement with political power. He also alleged that some politicians are "fed up" with the patronage system, saying it undermines good governance and contributes to systemic corruption in the country.
The interview came as the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) publicly endorsed eight senatorial candidates ahead of the May 12 midterm elections: former Sen. Bam Aquino, Sen. Bong Revilla, Sen. Pia Cayetano, Sen. Bato Dela Rosa, Sen. Bong Go, SAGIP Party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, Sen. Imee Marcos, and Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar.
Revilla, Cayetano, and Villar are part of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas slate. Dela Rosa, Go, and Marcoleta are running under the DuterTEN coalition. Marcos and Villar are guest candidates of DuterTEN and were previously endorsed by impeached Vice President Sara Duterte.
The senators elected this year will comprise half of the Senate impeachment court that will hear the case against the Vice President.