Palace confirms Aquino met with influential non-Catholic group leader

Manila: The presidential palace on Monday confirmed that President Benigno Aquino III had met with an influential religious leader while at the same time fending off allegations that the leader was engaged in influence peddling.

Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said while a meeting had indeed taken place between Aquino and Eduardo Manalo, executive minister of the Iglesia ni Christo (Church of Christ or INC), it supposedly has nothing to do with political lobbying.

"Today, we confirm that the President met with Ka Eduardo (Co-believer) of the Iglesia ni Cristo this morning. Their meeting has been previously scheduled, in fact before the Holy Week… there was already a planned meeting with Ka Eduardo, unfortunately the schedule of the President and the schedule of Ka Eduardo could not jibe then," said Lacierda as he explained why Aquino had to meet the INC leader only this Monday afternoon.

Earlier, there had been reports that palace officials had been meeting with senators.

Discreet

The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported on Saturday that palace officials had discreetly with Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada to discuss the impeachment case of Supreme Court Chief Justice Corona.

Corona, which is the highest non-elected official of the country, is being tried before the Senate convening as a tribunal, for allegedly committing several impeachable offences including unconstitutional acts, refusing to declare his assets and rendering decisions favouring former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, among others.

Corona is due to give his testimony on Tuesday on his own impeachment trial.

'Burning issues'

But Lacierda, said that while it is true that the President had met with Manalo and discussed many "burning issues," the meeting had nothing to do with the "INC lobbying" issue that came out in the papers last weekend.

"This has nothing to do with the news about the lobbying of the INC, again let me emphasize this has been previously scheduled… we don't believe there is an INC lobby for the chief justice," Lacierda noted.

Established during the early years of the last century, the non-Catholic INC, which claims several million members, is one of the most politically influential religious groups in the country.

Several religious groupings

While there are several religious groupings in the Philippines, the influence of the INC is substantial because it is capable of initiating bloc voting from its members.

Aside from these, INC members occupy influential posts in society and government. President Aquino himself had benefited from this bloc vote during the 2010 presidential campaign.

Lacierda said Aquino's meeting with the INC leader had allowed the President to "touch base" with the group which has supported the former since his days as senator.

Earlier, there had been reports of a falling out between Aquino and the INC over certain issues.