Self-destructive INC ‘blot’

By Herbert Vego

AN ink blot stains the surface it spills on.

The pun of it all is that it reminds us of the “ink blot” that is now smearing the image of the INC (Iglesia ni Cristo) as a Christian sect because of its interference in political affairs. The INC as a religious organization has earned the reputation of supporting “generous” politicians who are not even among their members.

But there’s more to it than its vaunted “unity” if we focus on its intention to lead a three-day rally at the Rizal Park from Nov. 16 to 18 “to call for transparency and accountability in government.”

Since it’s anti-government, I find that contradictory to the INC’s oft-repeated tenet of “subservience to government authority,” quoting the Bible in Hebrews 13:17: “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls.”

The members of two other sects – Jesus is Lord (JIL) and Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) – are reportedly joining them. This makes me laugh because their leaders — KOJC’s Apollo Quiboloy and JIL’S Joel Villanueva (pastor and senator) — are suspected of having committed crimes for which they would not like to be accountable.

Quiboloy, now an inmate in Pasig City Jail, faces charges of sexual abuse here and in the United States.

Sen. Villanueva faces criminal and administrative cases for his involvement in the alleged ghost flood-control projects in his home province of Bulacan.

A simultaneous three-day rally to be led by retired generals and loyalists of former President Rodrigo Duterte is scheduled to unfold at the EDSA People Power Monument. They would call for the resignation of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Without amplifying so, that would result in government take-over by Vice-President Sara Duterte. To me, that’s like jumping from the frying pan to the fire.

The irony of it all is that the INC had been an ally of the late Ferdinand Marcos Sr. (the father of Bongbong) during his 20-year presidency (1966-1986).

“A destabilization plot” is how columnist Mon Tulfo describes the forthcoming rally, with no less than VP Sara, Rep. Paolo Duterte and former Ilocos Sur Governor Chavit Singson as the alleged financiers.

As in previous Maisug rallies at Plaza Lawton, I don’t think the three-day event  — assuming it lasts that long — would gather a sizable crowd.

Thank God, not everybody wants to sell his soul.

-oOo-

AKELCO DENIAL BASED ON FAKE NEWS

THE Aklan Electric Cooperative, Inc. (AKELCO) made the wrong reaction to Radyo Todo Aklan’s news report that Kalibo, Aklan’s mayor, Juris Sucro, had met with MORE Power President Roel Castro to negotiate its partnership with Aklan Electric Cooperative.

Nay, not so, said Radyo Todo big boss Jonathan Cabrera. As shown in published and online pictures of Castro and Sucro exchanging pleasantries in the latter’s office, Sucro was simply echoing the wish of many Aklanons for MORE Power to partner with AKELCO as it had done with the Central Negros Electric Cooperative (CENECO) through a joint venture agreement. The merger has given rise to Negros Electric and Power Corp. or Negros Power or NEPC for short.

MORE Power and Negros Power are the first two distribution utilities under a holding company known as Primelectric.  The third is Bohol Light in Tagbilaran City, Bohol. Their combined customers total more than 400,000 households and commercial firms.

Based on the AKELCO website, its latest residential rate for October 2025 is PHP 13.2914 per kWh.

On the other hand, MORE Power has the lowest rate in Western Visayas at PHP 11.087 per kWh this month, a drop from PHP 12.44 per kWh in September.

So, can we blame the Kalibo mayor for wanting the two distribution utilities to co-exist in Aklan?