Pnoy Aquino Meets with Iglesia ni Cristo Leaders

President Benigno S. Aquino III met with Iglesia ni Cristo's Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo to "touch base" with the group which has supported the former since his days as senator.

Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda confirmed the meeting in a news conference Monday, only hours after the two met at the INC Central office in Quezon City.

Lacierda addressed doubts from some groups the meeting was primarily focused on the alleged lobbying of the INC for impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona's acquittal by the Senate Impeachment Court.

The presidential spokesman said the meeting was scheduled even before the Holy Week but their respective schedules did not permit a meeting until Monday.

Lacierda said: "Today, we confirm that the President met with Ka Eduardo of the Iglesia ni Cristo this morning. Their meeting has been previously scheduled, in fact before holy week pa… 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.

"It was only today that they were able to find a common schedule."

Lacierda added: "The purpose of the President's meeting was to touch base with Ka Eduardo and the Iglesia ni Cristo.

"As you know the Iglesia ni Cristo supported the President during his Senatorial campaign and also during his Presidential campaign… yes, the impeachment issue was discussed because it is one of the burning issues of the day.

"The President explained to Ka Eduardo the reasons for the (Chief Justice Corona) impeachment, that this is part of his reform agenda..."

Also discussed were developmental programs of the Aquino administration, Lacierda said.

"Hindi lamang po ang impeachment ang pinag-usapan, napag-usapan din ang mga ginagawa ng ating pamahalaan… na mention din po ni Pangulong Aquino ang TESDA, kung ano ang ginagawang projects ng TESDA."

Lacierda stressed 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.

The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported Saturday INC officials had been meeting senators to lobby for the acquittal of impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona.