Iglesia Ni Cristo’s demand to hold all corrupt officials accountable is legitimate. Still, they refuse to apply it to Rodante Marcoleta, who is facing graft and plunder charges for an election-related offense. Their condemnation of selective justice smacks of hypocrisy, since their motive is merely to preempt Marcoleta’s looming arrest.
They are distorting the clamor for justice by maliciously invoking it to negotiate concessions from the corrupt Marcos Jr. administration. Ironically, they call for transparency even if their real agenda is shrouded in secrecy as they engage in transactional politics.
The INC leadership has consistently sided with notoriously corrupt dynasties, including the Marcos dictatorship and the ‘uniteam’ of Marcos and Duterte in 2022.
INC appears to be critical in organizing an anti-corruption protest, but it is suspiciously silent about the corruption issues hounding the Dutertes.
Bayan calls for sustained public vigilance to prevent the INC protest from undermining the anti-corruption advocacy. The protest reflects not just the deep political crisis caused by the vicious infighting among the ranks of plunderers, but also the bankrupt system dominated by corrupt political dynasties.
The struggle for genuine accountability and justice should not be hostage to parochial and sectarian interests. Bayan enjoins the people to hold both the Marcos and Duterte blocs and their allied political dynasties accountable for the widespread corruption in the bureaucracy. Both factions are guilty of abusing their power to further enrich themselves and their cronies. We urge INC members to reject both sides and to condemn public officials who steal with impunity, even those who share their religious beliefs.
Tuloy ang laban! Lahat ng sangkot, dapat managot!
Marcos, singilin! Duterte, panagutin!
Baguhin ang korap at bulok na sistema!