PhlPost defends printing of INC stamps

MANILA, Philippines - Unconstitutional, no. Historical, yes.

Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) postmaster general Josefina dela Cruz yesterday denied allegations that it was unconstitutional for them to print 1.2 million stamps to mark the centennial anniversary of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC).

Dela Cruz told The STAR she was wondering why there were people making an issue over the INC stamps that came out last May 10.

She said the PHLPost did not violate the law on the separation of church and state since they did not print the INC stamps on the basis of religion.

“This is in a way a part of history,” she said.

Dela Cruz also said that before they start printing stamps, it is approved by the stamp committee which is composed of representatives from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP).

She pointed out that this was not the first time that their office featured a religious leader or a religious organization in their stamps.

Just recently, they came out with a se-tenant stamp marking the canonization of Pope John Paul II and Pope John XXIII and a separate commemorative stamp of Pope Francis.

“I don’t know why Iglesia Ni Cristo is being singled out. I don’t think there is anything unconstitutional about it,” she said.

Dela Cruz stressed that the INC stamps were not for free and in fact added to PHLPost’s income.

She said while there were many people who procured the pope stamps, a lot of them only got a few pieces each, unlike the INC buyers who purchased in bulk.

The INC initially only placed an order for 50,000 pieces but later doubled its order.

Since each stamp costs P10, the post office easily made P1 million from the deal, Dela Cruz said.

The INC also bought several stamp frames from PHLPost. A big frame costs P3,000 per piece.

Dela Cruz said the INC stamp was the biggest volume that they have ever printed since she became postmaster general.

She said that on the average, PHLPost only makes 105,000 pieces of stamps.