FACT CHECK: No order from Quimbo to padlock INC churches in Marikina

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Marikina 2nd District Representative Stella Quimbo denied multiple fake graphics falsely attributing anti-Iglesia ni Cristo statements to her following former president Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest

Claim: Marikina 2nd District Representative Stella Quimbo urged the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to monitor and padlock Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) churches in Marikina City to prevent disorder in the city following the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte. 

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: The quote card containing the claim has garnered over 1,000 likes, 526 comments, and 265 shares as of writing. It was posted by the Facebook page “Banat News,” which has 27,000 likes and 164,000 followers. The claim has since been widely reshared by multiple accounts on the platform.

The quote card, which uses Quimbo’s campaign colors, reads:

“Following the well-deserved arrest of FPRRD [former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte], I urge the DILG and PNP to monitor all Iglesia Ni Cristo churches in Marikina City for possible violent protests. If it’s allowed, padlock all INC churches to prevent them from causing disorder in the city.”

Some commenters on the post expressed strong reactions to the alleged statement, with one user saying, “Sobra ka naman, respect po lalo na sa mga religious group. Huwag po idamay ang bahay dasalan.” (You’re going too far, please respect religious groups and do not involve places of worship.) 

Another wrote, “Hindi ako INC pero (I’m not INC, but) to assume trouble will come from a religious group is insinuating trouble where there is none.”

The post came just a day after Duterte was arrested and transferred to the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of crimes against humanity linked to his administration’s bloody drug war. 

The facts: The quote is fake. There is no record of Quimbo making such a statement. 

On March 12, Quimbo addressed the issue on her official Facebook page, debunking multiple fake graphics that falsely attributed anti-INC remarks to her. The same statement was reposted on her online social service page, Serbisyong Q, which also urged Marikeños to fight disinformation:

“Araw-araw po naglalabas ang mga trolls ng kalaban sa pulitika ng mga pekeng quote card. Wala pong katotohanan ang mga pekeng quote card na ito. Wala pong ganyang binibitawang salita si Teacher Stella. Nakikiusap po tayo sa mga kalaban sa pulitika na tigilan na ang paggamit sa Iglesia Ni Cristo para magpakalat ng fake news.”

(Every day, political opponents’ trolls release fake quote cards. These quote cards are completely false. Teacher Stella never made such a statement. We appeal to political rivals to stop using Iglesia ni Cristo to spread fake news.)

INC on Duterte’s arrest: The INC has publicly opposed Duterte’s arrest, expressing its stance in a statement aired on the church-run NET25’s “Sa Ganang Mamamayan” on March 21. INC spokesperson Edwil Zabala criticized the Marcos administration and said Duterte should face trial in the Philippines rather than at the ICC.

Zabala also referred to the INC’s National Rally for Peace held on January 13, where the church, while maintaining a nonpartisan position, called for unity and peace. He argued that the former president’s arrest would only deepen political divisions.

Notably, during the 2022 presidential elections, the INC endorsed the UniTeam coalition of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte.

Similar claims: Rappler has fact-checked several claims related to the INC and false statements attributed to public officials: 

• FACT CHECK: No INC statement backing VP Sara Duterte’s outburst vs Marcos
• FACT CHECK: Santiago, Enrile, Marcos quotes on Iglesia ni Cristo are fake
• FACT CHECK: Negros Oriental’s Sagarbarrias didn’t say Duterte rally attendees won’t receive cash aid
• FACT CHECK: Video linking CamSur politician to alleged jueteng lord is AI-edited 
• FACT CHECK: Viral quote card of CDO congressman on Sara impeachment fake

 – Cyril Bocar/Rappler.com 

Efren Cyril Bocar is a student journalist from Llorente, Eastern Samar, enrolled in English Language Studies at the Visayas State University. A managing editor of Amaranth, Cyril is a graduate of the Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship of Rappler for 2024. 

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