Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Less than a week remains before the nation finally chooses the country’s next set of leaders.
With survey results indicating close fights, any candidate could make use of the support from political and religious groups, especially those that are said to deliver bloc votes — like the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC).
According to a report posted on Thursday (May 5) on the website of an INC-linked media group eaglenews.ph, the INC leadership has endorsed presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte and vice presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to its followers.
The INC is also backing the following senatorial candidates:
Franklin Drilon
Win Gatchalian
Dick Gordon
Risa Hontiveros
Panfilo Lacson
Manny Pacquiao
Ralph Recto
Martin Romualdez
Vicente Sotto
Francis Tolentino
Joel Villanueva
Migz Zubiri
The eaglenews report says the names of the candidates supported by INC are in sample ballots being distributed to sect members “all over the country.”
However, as of posting, the religious group has not made an official announcement about the endorsement.
According to INC, around 2 million of its members are registered voters.
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Could INC vote bring a candidate to Malacañang?
Since its establishment in 1914, the INC has been active in the political scene, particularly during the elections.
Based on several articles published by INC’s Pasugo, Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism and other media outlets, the religious group has proved time and again, that its bloc vote could deliver victories for most if not all of its chosen candidates.
INC has reportedly endorsed the candidacies of former Philippine presidents since President Manuel Quezon’s time.
According to several news reports, the religious group has delivered votes to former President Manuel Quezon in two elections — in 1935 against former President Emilio Aguinaldo, and in 1941 against journalist and lawyer Juan Sumulong.
It also endorsed former President Manuel Roxas, the grandfather of presidential candidate Manuel “Mar” Roxas II. Roxas defeated former President Sergio Osmeña in the 1946 elections.
Former President Diosdado Macapagal, the father of former president and now incumbent Lubao Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, got the INC’s backing in 1961 — he defeated re-electionist President Carlos Garcia.
Former President Ferdinand Marcos, received support from this powerful religious group in three elections — in 1965, in 1969, and in 1981.
The late president, however, lost to Corazon Aquino, the mother of incumbent President Benigno Simeon Aquino III, in the 1986 snap elections despite support from the INC.
In 1998, the INC backed the candidacy of former president and now Manila Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada, who won against lawmakers like Jose de Venecia, Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Raul Roco, and Juan Ponce Enrile.
INC also endorsed former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s presidential bid in 2004. She won by a tight margin against actor-turned-politician Fernando Poe Jr., presidential candidate Sen. Grace Poe’s adoptive father.
In the last presidential elections, INC supported President Benigno Aquino III, who won with over 15 million votes against former President Estrada and senator and business tycoon Manny Villar.
INC can’t make everyone win
However, an INC endorsement cannot guarantee a win.
Even with INC backing, Marcos didn’t win another term in the 1986 snap polls, and its support wasn’t enough to carry businessman Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. to Malacanang in 1992.
Though INC endorsed Liberal Party’s “Noy-Mar” tandem in 2010, Roxas lost the vice presidency to Jejomar Binay.
Also read: Endorsement from INC might backfire on candidates in 2016 — analyst
It also couldn’t guarantee the win of all the 12 senatorial candidates it endorsed in the 2013 elections.
The INC back then announced its support for Juan Edgardo Angara, Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, Alan Peter Cayetano, Loren Legarda, Grace Poe, Antonio Trillanes IV and Cynthia Villar from Team PNoy, and Nancy Binay, Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito, Jack Enrile, Richard Gordon and Gregorio Honasan II from the slate of United Nationalist Alliance. In the end, two of the 12 — Enrile and Gordon — lost.
