Sara Duterte greets INC: Praying that your faith in God be strengthened

Vice President Sara Duterte. INQUIRER PHOTO/LYN RILLON

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte on Sunday greeted the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) for its 111th founding anniversary, calling on its members to continue practicing God’s teachings and humility.

Duterte thanked the INC members for their prayers for peace and order, for the country, and their strengthened faith in God.

“We are one with your celebration of the anniversary and we are praying that your faith in God will be strengthened, together with His promise of safety to his children,” Duterte, speaking in Filipino, said in a video message.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier issued Proclamation No. 729, declaring July 27, 2025 as a special non-working day nationwide in recognition of the founding anniversary of Iglesia Ni Cristo.

READ: Marcos to INC on its 111th anniversary: Continue being partners of gov’t

“Continue living the love and greatness of God who gave strength to you to stand up for truth and push for a life based on holy word,” Duterte stated.

Duterte also extended her gratitude and appreciation to Eduardo Manalo, the current Executive Minister of INC.

“I want to express my gratitude to Ka Eduardo V. Manalo for his admirable leadership and his heart’s purity to push for unity, understanding, and faith despite different principles and ideologies in the society,” Duterte said.

The INC, known for the “bloc voting” of its members, endorsed the candidacies of Duterte and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. under the “Uniteam” in the 2022 elections.

Last January 13, around 1.5 million of INC members gathered at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila for the “National Rally for Peace” to call for peace between Marcos and Duterte. The members described the event as a show of support for Marcos’ stand against the impeachment case against Duterte.

READ: Supreme Court: Impeachment complaint vs Sara Duterte unconstitutional

The House of Representatives impeached Duterte last February 5 with the impeachment complaint transmitted to the Senate on the same day. After months of the case being stalled, the Senate, voting 18-5, remanded the articles of impeachment against Duterte to the lower chamber.

The Supreme Court (SC) recently unanimously ruled that the impeachment case against Duterte is unconstitutional.

SC Spokesperson Camille Ting said that the “Supreme Court has ruled that the House impeachment complaint versus Vice President is barred by one-year rule and that due process or fairness applies during all stages of the impeachment.” /mr