Iglesia vote a 'game changer' in May polls, says Miriam

[Ronzkie23]

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Iglesia vote a 'game changer' in May polls, says Miriam

By Ira Pedrasa, ABS-CBN News
Posted at 04/25/2013 12:08 PM | Updated as of 04/25/2013 1:14 PM

MANILA - Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago warned that survey results will radically change once the influential Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) announces – albeit discreetly – its chosen candidates in the May polls.
She said the INC, which reportedly now has nine million voters, could be a game changer especially against those who "double-crossed" the group during a previous political controversy.
"I further understand that INC, out of patriotism, took a strong position during a recent political controversy. Certain re-electionist senators reportedly promised to support the INC position, but out of opportunism, reneged on their promise when the hour came,” she said in a speech before the annual national convention of the Philippine Masons.
She believes the INC will release its list of approved candidates soon.
“Therefore, I issue this strong note of caution: The campaign survey results might undergo radical changes, after the INC releases its official list. In other words, you don’t double-cross the INC and get away with it,” she said.
Santiago may be referring to the impeachment trial of former Chief Justice Renato Corona. The latter supposedly had the backing of the INC and was seen to go unscathed after the trial.
A majority, however, turned out later to vote for his ouster reportedly due to influence of Malacanang.
Re-electionist senators who are running in the May polls are Senators Loren Legarda, Alan Peter Cayetano, Francis Escudero, Koko Pimentel and Antonio Trillanes IV of Team PNoy; and Gregorio Honasan of the United Nationalist Alliance.
All six senators voted guilty in the Corona trial.
The INC, founded in 1914, traditionally endorses candidates during elections. Candidates normally seek INC support during elections because its members vote as a bloc.
New Senate President?
Santiago said she sees a change in leadership at the Senate after the May elections.
“The survey results released last Tuesday showed that in this snapshot in time, it is 9 - 3 for the administration coalition. The conventional wisdom is that the top 9 are sure of winning; in this short list, it is 7 - 2 for the administration,” she said.
With this, she sees the following to constitute the Senate in the next Congress:
The administration coalition will be: Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, Paolo Benigno Aquino, Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, Franklin Drilon, Francis Escudero, Teofisto Guingona III, Loren Legarda, Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., Sergio Osmeña III, Aquilino Pimentel III, Grace Poe, Ralph Recto, Vicente Sotto III, Antonio Trillanes IV, and Cynthia Villar.
Her forecast for the opposition coalition are: Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada, Nancy Binay, JV Ejercito, Gregorio Honasan or Jack Ponce Enrile.
The independent senators will be herself and Ramon Revilla, Jr. and Lito Lapid from Lakas.
She said it is highly probable that Enrile will be edged out as Senate President.
“On a numerical basis, it is highly probable that the next Senate President will come from the administration coalition, and will traditionally come from the oldest senators, namely: Senators Osmeña, Drilon, Villar, or Guingona.”
She noted: “Since I am an Ilongo, I am happy to emphasize that virtually each one of these four contenders is a Visayan, or related to one."
She insisted, however, that the INC vote could still trump the results.

Source: Iglesia vote a 'game changer' in May polls, says Miriam | ABS-CBN News

[Rakizta]

i think so . the iglesia vote is a solid block .

[edgeknife]

in national level, more or less factor ang INC Vote. but not in local.

[necrotic freak]

in national level, more or less factor ang INC Vote. but not in local.

sigurado ka?

[kit_cebu]

blind faith..........

[Ekim Amar]

i am not an inc member but i believe in their political clout and i admire them for their principles.

[Joseph Ratzinger]

Well, they are known for block voting so yes, Iglesia is a factor. Mao gani daghan kandidato mang ligaw nila.

[hobie]

I don't think so.

[KOLPO SAMOT]

d na tinood mas motoo pako sa catholic votes which are the silent majority

[<SMILE>]

9 million is way a very significant figure,
they have all the right to choose and cast their votes.