Nakuha ko ang e-mail na nasa ibaba sa isang e-group, at lalo nitong kinumpira ang isinulat ko na imposibleng sumuporta kay Gloria Arroyo ang Iglesia Filipina Independiente na lalong kilala bilang Aglipayan Church. Di tulad ng ilang sektang mala-kulto at nang-uuto ng kanilang mga miyembre upang suportahan ang inaakala nilang mananalo (at sa gayo’y mapanalitili ang kanilang political clout), disente at may rebolusyunaryong kasaysayan ang IFI. Imposibleng suportahan nito ang isang kandidatong fan na fan ng imperyalistang US.

Nakakalungkot. Talagang ginawa ng ilang kandidato ang lahat–pati ang pagsisinungaling–manalo lamang. Sabagay, ano pa nga ba ang bago?

By the way, Romano Katoliko po ako. Hindi po ako Aglipayano.

(Hindi rin po ako si Eddie Gil o si Rainier Castillo.

To: botomo@yahoogroups.com
From: “marinduque_net”
Date: Sat, 08 May 2004 17:03:48 -0000
Subject: [botomo] Misrepresenting the Philippine Independent Church

I am a member of the Philippine Independent Church (Aglipayan Church) and I know for a fact that the church never publicly endorsed any candidate at all.

I am dumbstruck to read the news article dragging the name of our church to the propaganda perpetrated by the present administration.
http://www.inq7.net/brk/2004/may/08/brkpol_6-1.htm

When I saw the name Armando de la Cruz as the Supreme Bishop, then, it became clear to me that this news article was erroneous. Our Supreme Bishop is The Most Rev. Tomas A. Millamena D.D. I researched and found out that this de la Cruz is part of a group of priests who broke away with the Church. This group are those who collaborated with the Marcos dictatorship and I am not surprise[d] that they are again engaged in this kind of political sellout.

Our Church never tolerated the acts of this administration when it comes to selling our national patrimony. In fact our own Obispo Maximo issued a statement against this administration’s blind support of the US’ recent wars. Our Church continues to assert our national sovereignty, work and seek justice for the poor and follow the Christian way of life. We may not be in the national limelight as the other high flying churches even though we number around 6-7 Million, that’s because we are a Church [that] doesn’t ask favor from any politician. We maintain that the Church is totally separate from the State. We are independent to vote whoever we choose and I am against anybody who misrepresents this freedom.

Below is the official letter from the Church to belie any claim that the Church endorses any candidate.

=================================================
Misrepresenting the Iglesia Filipina Independiente
Letter to the Editor (PDI) March 26, 2004

THIS is with reference to the inside picture story of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo receiving a blessing from a certain Bishop Aguisando and other officials of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente.(Inquirer, March 16, 2004)

The hierarchy of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente with central office address at 1500 Taft Avenue, Ermita, Manila strongly disowns such an act of misrepresentation. It is a blatant misuse and abuse of the registered name of our Church as stipulated in its Articles of Incorporation. The bishop and other officials who performed the blessing are not included in the roster of clergy of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente.

The Iglesia Filipina Independiente has not had any experience of publicly endorsing any candidate during elections in spite of the fact that there were and are priests and bishops who decided to run for elective positions in elections. Every member of this church is free to vote for candidates of his choice or as his conscience dictates.

BISHOP BART O. ESPARTERO, dean
FATHER ZALDY M.
FABABAER, canon
Iglesia Filipina Independiente