SAGIP Party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta speaking before the Iglesia Ni Cristo’s (INC) “National Rally for Peace” (Screenshot from live stream)

SAGIP Party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta defended Vice President Sara Duterte anew during the Iglesia Ni Cristo’s (INC) “National Rally for Peace” on Monday, Jan. 13 amid the filing of mutiple impeachment complaints against her.

Marcoleta, a member of the INC, said the ongoing impeachment moves against Duterte would only lead to division between the country’s leaders, as well as the Filipino people.

“Kapag nagtatalo-talo ang mag nasa pamahalaan, apektado ang taongbayan. At kapag magulo ang bansa, ang mga tao ang kawawa,” he said in a speech at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.

(When those in government quarrel, the people are affected. And when the country is in trouble, the people are pitiful.)

Marcoleta, however, clarified that the INC was not against impeachment. He said the church was ultimately against impeachment moves that were not based on law.

“Ang Iglesia Ni Cristo ay hindi po laban as impeachment, sapagkat ang impeachment itinatadhana sa Saligang Batas, ngunit kung ang paraan ng pagsasagawa nito ay wala sa batas at wala sa tuntunin, ito na naman ay pagmumulang ng kaguluhan, pagmumulan na naman ng pagkakabaha-bahagi ng ating bansa,” the veteran lawmaker explained.

(The Iglesia Ni Cristo is not against impeachment, because impeachment is stipulated in the Constitution, but if the method of carrying it out is not based on law and not in the rules, this is again a source of chaos, a source of division of our country.)

Marcoleta, a senatorial aspirant, shared before a huge crowd of INC members that certain members of the House of Representatives allegedly demonstrated clear violations of rule of law.

He recalled that during last year’s budget hearings, the Vice President was allegedly targeted by lawmakers when they kept on asking the official about her office’s alleged fund misuse between 2022 and 2023.

“Saan ka naman nakakita ng gano’ng direksyon? 2025 [budget] ang dapat pag-usapan, ang kanilang pilit na tinatanong ay pagasta niya noong 2022 at 2023,” he said.

(Where is the direction in that? The proposed 2025 budget should be discussed, what they were trying to ask was what she spent in 2022 and 2023.)

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Marcoleta also questioned the proceedings of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability—the findings of which were cited in the three impeachment complaints filed against Duterte.

He slammed the panel—tasked to probe Duterte’s alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds—for acting like it was the Commission on Audit (COA).

“Bakit naman isang opisina lang ang pinipilit niyong usisain? Hindi ba masyadong halata namang pamumulitika ‘yan?” the solon asked.

(Why do you insist on investigating only one office? Isn't that too obvious politicking?)

“Wala na pong rule of law…sapagkat hindi naman po talaga ang layunin ay gumawa ng batas kundi usigin ang taong gusto nilang usigin,” he said, referring to the committee’s intent of investigating in aid of legislation.

(There is no rule of law because the goal is not to make laws but to prosecute the person they want to prosecute.)

Marcoleta, a former deputy speaker, said the INC is committed to supporting President Marcos’ stance of opposing the impeachment of the Vice President.

“Kinatigan ng Iglesia Ni Cristo ang ang posisyon ng Pangulo na ang impeachment ay hindi makakapagdulot ng kabutihan sa buhay ng kahit isang Pilipino,” he said.

(The Iglesia Ni Cristo is in support of the President's position that an impeachment will not bring good to the life of even a single Filipino.)

“Hindi lamang ito pagaaksaya sa oras ng pamahalaan kundi hadlang din sa pagreresolba sa marami at pangunahing problema ng bansa,” he continued.

(This is not only a waste of the government's time but also an obstacle to solving the many and primary problems of the country.)

According to the Philippine National Police (PMP), the INC’s rally drew an estimated 1.5 million people.