Social media is abuzz with the large protest by the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), first at the Department of Justice (DOJ) compound in Manila on Thursday, and now at the Edsa-Ortigas-Shaw area. As a result, widespread traffic was experienced by motorists and commuters who planned on enjoying the long weekend and payday weekend.
Because of the large scale of the protest (INC members from as far as Bicol, Nueva Ecija, Pangasinan, Zambales and Batangas joined the rally), politicians, journalists, and other personalities aired their thoughts via social media.
Ira Panganiban, a veteran journalist whose credentials range from ABS-CBN to Inquirer Radio, was not impressed. According to a viral list he posted on Facebook:
1. Everyone has to right to free expression.
2. Everyone has the right not to be inconvenienced by their neighbors.
3. When a crime or transgression of the law is committed, authorities must be allowed to investigate.
4. Separation of church and state is a doctrine created to PREVENT THE CHURCH from meddling in state affairs. Read your history and law books.
5. Filing of criminal charges are state affairs not church affairs.
6. Disruption of peace and order, blocking road routes, leaving trash after a public event, and just being a general pest to the public are violation of the law and just ordinary human decency.
7. Calling people who do not agree with you names and threatening them with harm and indecent action is called BIGOTRY.
According to members of INC, they are protesting the DOJ after Justice Secretary Leila de Lima ordered an investigation on the illegal detention case filed by expelled INC minister Isaias Samson against some of its leaders. Samson said he was accused of being behind a blog exposing alleged corruption in the church. Their battle cry: to uphold the separation of church and state.
Last night, INC spokesperson Edwil Zabala asked for the public’s forgiveness in the traffic they caused. He said, “Pasensya na sa commuters. Ayaw namin ng ganito but we felt compelled we needed to do this kasi di kami pinapansin at sa halip na umaksyon sa sinasabi namin, insult was added to the injury.” (Sorry to the commuters. We don’t want to do this but we felt compelled we needed to do this because instead of listening to us, insult was added to the injury).
As of this morning, the rally has over 2,000 supporters.
What do you think? Share your thoughts below!
We are all citizens of this country regardless of religion. Umayos po sana tayo sa tama. Kung gusto mag rally fine pwede pero gawin sa tama hindi yun basta na lang mamemerwisyo ng mga tao na wala kinalaman sa rally nyo. Sana sa open field nyo ginawa hindi yun sa gitna ng busy major road. We also respect your religion since we all have same faith with Christ. Pero sana naman wag nyo gawing Kulto as in Cult ang relihiyon nyo na pag sinabi ng lider nyo na tumalon kayo sa fifty-feet high na building eh tatalon kayo. Wag ganon, magisip isip din pag may time.
Contrary to common notion that politicians need to be wary of the INC because of the coming elections, THINKING politicians need to consider what is being displayed here: Are they willing to go to bed with these kind of people who bully public officials for doing their jobs? What happens if these politicians win through the (alleged?) INC bloc vote, and down the line they are pressured to doing something that they do not agree to? What kind of collective mentality would scream “separation of church and state” when one of their own is in danger of criminal litigation, but, in fact, they themselves meddle in afairs of the state with influence peddling? Besides, if the INC bloc vote is really that big a deal, Danding Conjuanco would have won the Presidency against Fidel Ramos in 1992, Mike Defensor, Tito Sotto and Ralph Recto would have won their Senatorial bids in 2007, as would have Ruffy Biazon in 2010, Mar Roxas would have won the Vice Presidential chair in 2010, Lito Atienza would have won the Mayoralty race in Manila against Alfredo Lim and so on and so forth (check this site for a list of INC’s failed political endorsements – https://politicsandchurch.wordpress.com/2011/04/15/iglesia-ni-cristo-and-their-failed-political-endorsements/). The INC may have been a force to reckon with before (especially during the time of Ferdinand Marcos), but to think they can still swing a mean right hook in today’s politics is just plain bollocks. Think people. Think.
Sec. De Lima is absolutely correct with her manifestations. notwithstanding of the apologies
publicly accounced, the inconvininces with the public
has been done already