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The fabricated quotes resurfaced following the Iglesia ni Cristo's nationwide rally opposing impeachment bids against Vice President Sara Duterte
Claim: The late Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, and the late President Ferdinand Marcos made the following statements about the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) in quote cards circulating online:
“Huwag mong pakialaman ang kaisahan ng Iglesia ni Cristo” (Don’t meddle with the unity of the Iglesia ni Cristo.) – Santiago
“Kung gusto mong gumulo ang buhay mo, guluhin mo ang Iglesia ni Cristo” (If you want your life to become a mess, try messing with the Iglesia ni Cristo.) – Enrile
“Huwag mong gigisingin ang higanteng natutulog (Iglesia ni Cristo)” (Don’t wake the sleeping giant, the Iglesia ni Cristo) – Marcos
Rating: FALSE
Why we fact-checked this: The TikTok video showing the quote cards has 313,200 views, 16,400 likes, 510 shares, and 1,175 comments as of writing.
The facts: The quotes attributed to Santiago, Enrile, and Marcos are fake. The fabricated quote cards initially circulated after the 2019 midterm elections and gained renewed attention ahead of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC)’s January 13 National Rally for Peace opposing the impeachment bids against Vice President Sara Duterte.
There are no verified records of speeches, writings, official statements, or interviews in which any of the three public figures made such remarks about the 110-year-old homegrown Christian church. These quotes appear to have been fabricated and circulated to highlight the INC’s perceived power and influence over Philippine politics.
Show of support: The INC’s National Rally for Peace drew over 1.5 million attendees at Manila’s Quirino Grandstand. The rally was also held across several cities nationwide to show support for Duterte amid allegations of her misusing public funds.
The 2.8-million-member church, which endorsed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Duterte in the 2022 elections, has said it was “supporting” Marcos’ call against Duterte’s impeachment, even as tensions between the former Uniteam allies have risen in recent months.
Known for its bloc voting system, INC holds political sway as both Marcos and Duterte continue to vie for the church’s backing. (READ: Is Iglesia ni Cristo pro-Marcos or pro-Duterte?)
Impeachment complaints: Duterte is currently facing three impeachment complaints filed in late 2024, accusing her of gross incompetence, betrayal of public trust, and the misuse of confidential funds. This comes amid growing public discontent, with a recent survey showing that 41% of Filipinos support her impeachment.
On January 10, House Secretary General Reginald Velasco confirmed the complaints have been verified and ready to be transmitted to the office of House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
‘No influence’: The INC-organized rally aims to support Duterte, but critics, including ACT Teachers Representative France Castro, see it as an attempt to “shield Duterte from accountability over corruption allegations.”
The justice department, however, maintained that the INC rally would not influence the government’s investigations into the Vice President. – Marjuice Destinado/Rappler.com
Marjuice Destinado is a Rappler intern. She is a third-year political science student at Cebu Normal University (CNU), serving as feature editor of Ang Suga, CNU’s official student publication.
Keep us aware of suspicious Facebook pages, groups, accounts, websites, articles, or photos in your network by contacting us at factcheck@rappler.com. Let us battle disinformation one Fact Check at a time.
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