Iglesia Endorses BBM-Sara Tandem

The Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) has endorsed the candidacies of presidential frontrunner Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio for the elections next Monday.

The religious group, known for bloc voting of its members, announced the decision of its leadership to endorse the tandem dubbed as BBM-Sara UniTeam during the Mata Ng Agila news program over Net 25 on Tuesday night, May 3.

The names of Marcos and Duterte-Carpio are carried in the sample ballots to be distributed to members of INC this week, along with other candidates endorsed by the church – including senatorial and local bets, and party-list groups.

Among the senatorial candidates, the INC endorsed Jejomar Binay, Alan Peter Cayetano, JV Ejercito, Guillermo Eleazar, Francis Escudero, Jinggoy Estrada, Sherwin Gatchalian, Loren Legarda, Robin Padilla, Joel Villanueva, Mark Villar and Juan Miguel Zubiri III.

In 2016, the INC also endorsed the vice presidential bid of Marcos, along with the presidential bid of President Duterte.

Marcos and Duterte-Carpio immediately welcomed the decision of the INC leadership.

In a statement, Marcos’ spokesman Vic Rodriguez also thanked the religious organization led by Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo.

“We will value the support you have given to us just like the support of the majority of our fellow Filipinos. This kind of trust will serve as guide to presidential frontrunner Bongbong Marcos and vice presidential leader Inday Sara Duterte in leading our nation should they win in the upcoming elections on May 9,” Rodriguez said in Filipino.

The camp of Marcos expressed “guarded optimism” that he will win in the election on Monday. Rodriguez said that while they remain vigilant coming into this final week of the campaign, they are confident that the consistent leader in pre-election surveys will win the presidency.

“We are optimistic. We are confident, but we are never complacent and that has always been our guarded optimism,” Rodriguez said in an interview.

“Of course, when you embark on a big undertaking as huge as this, you have to have a positive mindset. Similarly, our campaign is positive campaigning. Now, we’re down to the last stretch of the campaign, are we confident? We have to be. Otherwise, we do not have any business continuing with our campaign if we are not confident or optimistic of our chances come May 9,” he added.

While expecting a favorable outcome of the elections on Monday as indicated by pre-election surveys, massive rallies and backing by overwhelming majority of governors and local officials, Rodriguez called on their supporters to remain vigilant, be watchful of misinformation and ensure that their votes will be counted.

He also urged the public to trust the electoral process and the Commission on Elections (Comelec). “In fact, we have to support (the Comelec). We have to strengthen them. Do we trust Smartmatic? Well, it’s a tough question … because we have a sad experience in 2016. So that’s what we should watch out for. But still, we trust in the government,” Rodriguez said.

“We believe in President Duterte, that he will perform his legacy as president of leaving a clean and honest election. As for Smartmatic, we’ll leave it up to the Commission on Elections, but we will guard our votes and make sure that our vote is counted,” he added.

Rodriguez also expressed confidence that the alliance of parties for the UniTeam of Marcos and Duterte-Carpio will work together to ensure that no cheating will occur in the polls.

Apart from Marcos’ Partido Federal ng Pilipinas and Carpio’s Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) and Hugpong Ng Pagbabago, the UniTeam is also allied with the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino and the Duterte-led faction in the ruling PDP-Laban.

Rodriguez also cited the warning issued by the President to some groups and individuals who might want to subvert or influence the outcome of the elections.

“Don’t ever try to cheat because President Duterte wants this election to be successful as part of his legacy,” Rodriguez said.

Respect poll results

Meanwhile, Duterte-Carpio has called on Filipinos to respect whatever the results of the national elections on Monday will be.

In an interview with Net 25 last Monday, the Davao City mayor and presidential daughter urged voters to support winners of the polls even if their candidates lose.

“All of us should respect whatever the results of the election will be and support whoever will be duly elected by our countrymen,” she said in Filipino.

Duterte-Carpio, who chairs both Lakas-CMD and Hugpong Ng Pagbabago, also reiterated her appeal for a smooth electoral process on Monday.

“We should all pray for honest, orderly and peaceful elections. Let’s love our country,” she said.