By Tony Lopez
VIRTUAL REALITY
The influential Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) sect had a show of force the other day, February 28, at Manila’s sprawling Luneta (Rizal Park). From television and published pictures and anecdotal accounts, it looks like the INC managed to assemble a million of their faithful.
Normally, you can put four people comfortably in one square meter; six if shoulder to shoulder. The area from the Luneta Grandstand up to Taft Avenue can take in one million, at four per square meter. Beyond one million is a statistical impossibility.
Billed as a Grand Evangelical Mission, the INC gathering is in effect telling President Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III, in my rather irreverent language, “do not be flippant with us; we have the numbers to screw you up.” It seems, my source tells me, somebody overheard the president telling people in a closed door meeting, “the INC needs me but I don’t need them.” That—is a lie.
According to former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada, the INC was responsible for the massive electoral victory of then candidate Noynoy Aquino in May 2010. Aquino garnered 15 million votes; Estrada just 9.8 million. Erap estimates three million of Noynoy’s 15 million votes came from the INC, which has the habit of voting as a bloc 90 percent of the time. Deduct three million from 15 million and you get 12 million. Add the three million to Erap’s 9.8 million and you get 12.8 million. Erap would have defeated Aquino by 800,000 votes (12.8 million minus 12 million), were it not for the INC backing the devout Catholic Cory’s only son.
When he ran for senator in 2007, Noynoy garnered 14.3 million votes. In effect, he added less than a million votes to his electoral base when he won in 2010 for president, which explains how critical was the INC’s support.
The 12.8 million minus 12 million is Erap’s math, not mine. The former President is very good at electoral math (he is a third year engineering dropout at Mapua). Since he became a politician in 1969, Estrada had always been supported by the INC which was born in San Juan, the actor-politician’s home turf. Unfortunately, on August 31, 2009, Erap’s long-time backer, the head of INC, Eraño Manalo, died. Eraño grew up and studied in San Juan. Also on August 1, 2009, Cory Aquino died. The twin deaths gave life to Noynoy’s presidency. Ka Erdy’s eldest son, Eduardo, succeeded him as INC executive minister. Eduardo went for Aquino.
They say – this is hearsay (hearsay is admissible, per Impeachment Court rules) – INC is a backer of Chief Justice Renato Corona who is on trial before the Senate tribunal. The INC support is significant because President Aquino hinted in two recent speeches at the need for People Power in case Corona is acquitted by the Impeachment Court.
The size of the crowd that attended the 26th anniversary of People Power at EDSA was to say the least, dismal. The size of the People Power of INC last February 28 was to say the least, indeed grand or massive. It costs about P300 per person to convince people to attend a rally – for transport, food and other essentials. To draw 100,000 people you need P30 million.
Aquino’s congressmen, obviously, won’t part away with their “hard earned” pork barrel moolah to spend that much for a sizeable crowd.
Noynoy spent so much in pork barrel money to convince 188 congressmen to sign the impeachment articles against Corona. Obviously, it was money not well spent.
The impeachment articles were haphazardly written, so badly written that five of the eight articles had to be withdrawn because they cannot be supported by evidence. The best Prosecution Panel pork barrel money can buy was not even good enough in a law school Moot Court.
The INC, on the other hand, can easily sway their faithful, money or no money. So in a battle of People Power, Noynoy obviously will be the underdog.
The INC rally is also reminder to the congressmen in the Prosecution and the senator-judges to be extra careful in handling Corona’s case. Some of the most ardent Aquino followers in the House and in the Senate cannot win again in a close one-on-one electoral combat. TG Guingona, Antonio Trillanes and Koko Pimentel are borderline senators; they won by the thinnest of electoral margins. TG was No. 12 of twelve senatorial winners in 2010.
The 12th slot for senator in 2007 was decided by only 21,000 votes, between Migz Zubiri, the original winner and late bloomer Koko. In a crunch, the INC can easily produce for you those 21,000 votes. So there, “careful, careful,” to use a showbiz lingo.
Bna.biznewsasia@gmail.com
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