Palace keeping eye on coming Iglesia ni Cristo rally

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda

Malacañang on Monday said it was taking the word of Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) that its February 28 rally would just be “a Bible exposition” and not meant to drum up support for Chief Justice Renato Corona.

“We expect them to be true to their word and that it will be a religious activity and no other. Being a Church, we expect them to be truthful with their statements,” presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda told reporters.

President Benigno Aquino III himself has dismissed as a “media war or spin war” those suggesting that the upcoming INC rally at Manila’s Rizal Park would be a political event, saying the organization had assured the Palace it was just observing an annual religious activity.

At a press briefing, Lacierda was asked if the Palace saw a need to talk to the INC and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

“We are open to it. We’re open to discussing with the INC and also with the CBCP the merits of the impeachment trial,” he said.

Lacierda said the religious groups seemed to be divided over the impeachment trial but disagreed that they were supportive of Corona.

He noted that the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines and the Association of Major Religious Superiors had called on Corona to open his dollar accounts.

“The premise that the religious groups are in favor of the Chief Justice may not be entirely correct. The religious groups are also divided on the situation,’’ he said.

“But if religious groups are for the truth, I think, there should be no argument where they should go and it is for the ferreting out of the truth and like the Bible says, the truth will set you free, and the truth will set Chief Justice Corona free,’’ Lacierda said.