QUEZON CITY, Philippines (Eagle News) – The spokesperson of the Iglesia Ni Cristo has warned the public against people who will misrepresent themselves as members of the Church, amid recent news of alleged movements by candidates who did not get the INC’s endorsement to mobilize alleged INC members.
INC spokesperson minister Edwil Zabala said the Church had recently learned of these movements by candidates who had made plans to discredit the INC’s “one vote” after failing to get the INC’s support.
“Nakarating sa aming kaalaman na mayroon pong mga tao, kasama po ang ilang mga pulitiko na nagpaplano na magsagawa ng kilusan sa layuning siraan o sirain ang kaisahan ng Iglesia Ni Cristo (It has come to our attention that there are people, including some politicians, who would want to discredit the unity of the Iglesia Ni Cristo),” he said in a televised interview over NET 25.
Zabala said these movements by some politicians only confirmed earlier suspicions that these “bitter” candidates, together with other people — probably expelled members of the INC — would do all they could to discredit the INC’s unity in the upcoming elections. He also thanked these people who are circulating these planned movements, for confirming the INC’s suspicions.
“Unang una po ay nagpapasalamat kami sa mga taong nagpapakalat ng balitang iyon. Bakit po? Sapagkat nakumpirma sa amin yung matagal nang suspetsa na talagang mayroong mga tao kasama ang ibang mga pulitiko na nais pinsalain ang Pamamahala sa loob ng Iglesia Ni Cristo, nais pinsalain ang Iglesia Ni Cristo, pati na po ang kaisahan nito,” he explained.
Zabala said they had also learned that these politicians would come up with people wearing bonnets. They would then claim that they are INC members.
“Ang totoo po nabalitaan namin na nagpasabi sila na pagsusuotin nila ang ilang mga tao na kanila pong nakumbinsng pumunta roon ng bonnet at ayon sa kanila gagawin nila yun para diumano ay maprotektahan ang seguridad ng mga taong nakabonnet sapagkat palilitawin po nila na yun ay mga kaanib sa Iglesia Ni Cristo,” the INC spokesperson said in the interview.
Zabala said this is “not a new thing.” Those who have been previously seen as wearing bonnets are among the group of expelled INC members who had tried to discredit the INC’s unity before in several media reports.
He challenged these candidates to prove that the people they would muster are true INC members.
“Ang burden of proof po ay nasa inyo. Patunayan ninyo na ang pasusuotin ninyo ng bonnet ay mga kaanib sa Iglesia Ni Cristo. Pero para sa amin po ang tunay na Iglesia Ni Cristo, naintindihan po ang aral ng Biblia at lubos na makikipagkaisa sa Pamamahala ng Iglesia Ni Cristo. (The burden of proof is with you. Prove that those people who would wear bonnets are really members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo. But for us, those who are true members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo understand the teachings in the Bible and wholeheartedly unite with the Church Administration),” Zabala added.