MANILA, Philippines — Tingog party-list Rep. Jude Acidre believes it would be good for the country to hear thoughts from other Filipinos regarding moves to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte after Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) staged a rally for peace.
In an interview with Bilyonaryo News Channel’s On Point on Monday night, Acidre said he wants to believe that the INC’s rally was for peace, even if political undertones exist.
Despite these concerns, Acidre said determining the sentiments of people outside INC on Duterte’s possible impeachment is a good talking point for the country.
“We’ll like to take the explanation of the church that it’s a rally for peace. Obviously, there are political undertones, nonetheless, we would want to keep it at that. It’s something that asks us as a people to, as a nation, to check what our motives are or what our positions on certain issues are,” Acidre explained.
“I would welcome it as a time for us, even those who are not Iglesia, to also ponder upon our positions on certain issues, for us to ask. Kaya nga sinasabi ko (That’s why I am saying that), everybody is welcome to express their wishes for peace, their prayers for peace. I hope it does not also drown the call for accountability,” he added.
Acidre said that the political undertones came from INC’s call against Duterte’s impeachment.
“Well, the way it was presented, the other calls — for example, the choice to express disagreement with the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte speaks a lot of that political undertones,” he noted.
“But nonetheless, what I would want to see even more, in addition to peace, I hope it does not drown also the call for accountability. As they always say, there is no peace without justice,” he added.
While INC insisted several times that the rally was for peace and was not politically motivated, the church’s leaders said last December 6, 2024, that they support President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s call against the possibility of impeaching Duterte.
READ: INC rallies in support of Marcos stand against VP Duterte impeach moves
Last November 29, Marcos admitted that he asked lawmakers to stop moves to impeach Duterte, saying that doing so will not be important and will not make a difference to Filipinos’ lives.
READ: Marcos says he ordered impeachment moves vs VP Sara Duterte stopped
Acidre is not the first House of Representatives member who expressed concerns over the political undertones of the INC rally. On Sunday, ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro said that this “National Rally for Peace” was a “clear attempt to shield Vice President Sara Duterte from accountability over corruption allegations”, instead of being about peace and unity.
READ: Castro clarifies stance on INC rally: Everyone’s free to speak out
Castro clarified her stand on Monday, saying that she respects everyone’s right to peaceful assembly and to express their political views.