April 23, 2016
MANILA, Philippines -Presidential aspirant Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte on Friday made a courtesy call to Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) executive minister Eduardo Manalo.
Duterte went to the INC central office in Diliman, Quezon City to seek the church’s endorsement.
Duterte admitted that as a politician, he needed the endorsement of the INC, whose members are known to practice bloc voting during elections.
The tough-talking mayor shared to the INC leader his programs that he will implement if he is elected as president.
Duterte said his programs wil center on criminality, illegal drugs, corruption, food security, and economic development.
The mayor said he believes that whoever the INC picks among the candidates, would be good for the country.
“They (INC leaders) will never decide on what is bad for the country, so mahalaga ito para sa akin,” he said.
Duterte made his visit a day after Vice President Jejomar Binay met with Manalo.
Last Tuesday, Liberal Party standard bearer Mar Roxas, accompanied by his wife Korina Sanchez, also made a courtesy call to the INC leader.
Senator Grace Poe, on the other hand, met with the INC’s political affairs chief Eraño Codera late last month.
Politicians regularly troop to the INC to seek the support of the religious group, whose more than two million members, are said to vote in a bloc based on the advice of the church’s top leaders. – RBA
