INC, El Shaddai to RP leaders: Stop bickering

Joining the Roman Catholic Church, the Iglesia ni Cristo and the Catholic charismatic group El Shaddai appealed to administration and opposition leaders yesterday to "end the political bickering that has been going on for months" for the sake of the nation.

"For a time, we have refrained from issuing statements concerning the current political situation in keeping with our policy of respecting the separation of church and state," Iglesia ni Cristo executive minister Eraño Manalo and El Shaddai leader Mike Velarde said in a rare joint statement, apparently issued to underscore the urgency of the situation.

Breaking their silence on the issue, Manalo and Velarde said increasing calls from members of their respective flocks prompted them to appeal for an end to the crisis that experts warn could threaten the country’s economic recovery.

"However, the increasing calls of our members and non-members as well, a majority of whom belong to the lower bracket of the socio-economic strata, compelled us to break our silence and convey an appeal to all the leaders of both the administration and the opposition to bring to an end the political bickering that has been going on for months and has been hurting our nation so much, particularly its economy," the joint statement said.

Manalo and Velarde said it was "high time" for the administration and opposition leaders "to set aside their political interests" and "immediately attend to their duty of alleviating the sufferings of the Filipino people, for which they were put into office."

They called on both sides to consider the "undeniable reality" that many Filipinos now find it hard to provide themselves with the most basic of necessities.

"In fact, they can hardly afford to eat three square meals a day. Whereas the leaders who engage themselves in these political squabbles always have the means to survive even if the economic condition worsens," their statement read.

Manalo and Velarde appealed for both sides to resolve their issues "through peaceful and constitutional means, if only they will offer to sacrifice a portion of what they believe are theirs to hold on to, for the sake of our suffering people."

"We also believe that the efforts to resolve these (issues) should not consume the greater part of their time and energy such that the pressing needs of our people are left virtually neglected," the statement added.

Manalo and Velarde expressed confidence that the nation’s leaders still have the "welfare of the people at heart."

"May you not disappoint the expectations of your countrymen who look up to you for leadership, especially in these economically trying times," they added.

El Shaddai is estimated to have a membership of one million while at least one estimate puts Iglesia ni Cristo’s worldwide membership at three million to 10 million.

Despite the separation of church and state, El Shaddai and Iglesia ni Cristo are considered two of the country’s politically influential religious organizations because of their massive following.

Politicians running for office in elections seek the endorsement of the groups’ leaders as well as those of the Roman Catholic Church in the hope that it translates to votes.

El Shaddai and Iglesia ni Cristo are believed to vote as a bloc in elections.

The Catholic Church had earlier called for an end to the crisis, which began in June when the opposition released audiotapes allegedly of Mrs. Arroyo discussing with an election official ways to pad her lead in the hotly contested presidential election.

In September, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) issued a pastoral letter discouraging its flock from joining anti-Arroyo rallies following the dismissal of an opposition-initiated impeachment complaint against Mrs. Arroyo over alleged cheating in the election.

The CBCP urged Filipinos to "move forward and address the more important and urgent problem of grinding poverty of our people, which is caused by excessive politicking."

The poll fraud allegations against Mrs. Arroyo should be pursued through legal and peaceful means, the CBCP said.

The Catholic Church has traditionally played a politically powerful role in this predominantly Catholic nation. It was at the forefront of the "people power" revolts that toppled Ferdinand Marcos in 1986 and Joseph Estrada in 2001.

In early July, the end seemed near for Mrs. Arroyo when, one by one, bastions of the establishment deserted: her economic managers, corporate chieftains, civic groups and political allies.

However, Mrs. Arroyo got a reprieve from the CBCP when it decided it would not join the opposition’s call for Mrs. Arroyo’s resignation.

However, the political crisis has shown no signs of abating as street protest organizers have vowed to challenge the government’s policy on rallies.

Mrs. Arroyo, on the other hand, accuses rally organizers of abusing civil liberties to undermine her administration. She warned that police would break up protest rallies if they violate the law.

Clashes have erupted between protesters and police in the past days.

On Friday last week, a confrontation near Malacañang ensued when protesters led by former vice president and former Arroyo ally Teofisto Guingona Jr. and two opposition lawmakers tried to break through a police line guarding the road leading to the Palace.

Malacañang has sought a dialogue with the Catholic Church to defuse possible tension over the rally dispersal. So far, the Church’s position on the crisis remains unchanged.