Poe, Escudero meet with Iglesia ni Cristo

Presidential aspirant and Senator Grace Poe and Senator Francis Escudero. Photo courtesy of Senator Grace Poe’s Office

Two weeks before the May 9 national elections, Senators Grace Poe and Francis “Chiz” Escudero met on Monday with the influential religious sect Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) to court its support.

Escudero said they met with INC Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo around 9:00 a.m and the meeting lasted for only about 15 to 20 minutes.

“Yes, magkasama kami (we went together),” he said during the Pandesal Forum in Quezon City.

Esudero said Poe came minutes ahead of the scheduled meeting but they were met by the INC leader at the same time.

While there was no direct discussion of any endorsement, Escudero said the visit was a clear indication that they were courting the support of the influential sect.

Poe and Escudero are running for president and vice president, respectively.

“Actually, issues pa rin ang pinag-usapan, plataporma at mga balakin (we talked about issues, platforms and plans),” Escudero said.

“Sa ganyang pakikipag-usap naman, hind na kailangang pa usapan ng direteso, rekta ang mga bagay bagay. Palitan lang talaga ng pananaw dahil yung paghingi mo ng panahon, at paghingi mo ng oras, maliwanag na hudyat naman yun ng iyong pagnanais na mahingi ang tulong at suporta nila.”

(In these meetings, it is not necessary to talk about things directly. It was an exchange of beliefs [on issues] because our visit was a clear indication that we were courting their support and help.)

Asked if the INC had informed them when they would choose the candidates that they would support in the upcoming elections, Escudero said it was internal to the group and he would not dare ask such a question.

However, the INC, he said, would usually inform the candidates that they would choose to support.

While Poe had already met with INC Minister Eraño Cordera, Escudero said it was the first time that the lady senator met with Manalo.

READ: Poe visits top INC minister

“Lahat naman siguro ng kandidato, sinusuyo ang iba’t bang grupo, religious man o hindi kabilang na ang INC at hindi naman siguro sila dapat pulaan kung gagawin yan dahil pagkakataon pa rin yun na maipaliwanag ang kanilang programa at plataporma sa bawat sektor, bawat grupo, malaki man o maliit lalo na kung malaki,” Escudero said.

(All of the candidates are courting different groups, whether religious or not, including INC. I don’t think any visit should be criticized because it would be an opporunity to explain the candidates’ programs and platforms to every sector, group, whether big or small, especially to those large associations.)

Aside from the INC, Escudero said he had also met with other religious groups like the El Shaddai of Bro. Mike Velarde. RAM

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