A political firestorm erupted this week after the carefully crafted narrative pushed by certain political groups unraveled in real time. The Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) — a religious institution known for its strict internal discipline and unified public stance — found itself dragged into a political brawl it never intended to join. What was initially portrayed by DDS influencers as a massive church-backed attack on the Marcos administration has now been exposed as a major misunderstanding, fueled by an unauthorized speech that blindsided INC leadership.
The controversy ignited after Senator Imee Marcos addressed a crowd of INC members at a recent event. Her fiery remarks, which included pointed criticisms of her own brother, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., immediately became fodder for anti-administration content creators. DDS vloggers celebrated online, claiming that INC had finally broken ties with Malacañang and given the Senator full freedom to launch her verbal offensive. For several hours, social media buzzed with the dramatic storyline: “INC has abandoned PBBM.”
But that triumphant narrative collapsed just as quickly as it spread.
Viral commentary videos and insider clarifications soon revealed a crucial detail — the church did not authorize Imee Marcos to deliver political attacks. According to an INC representative featured in the viral analysis, the agreement with organizers was very specific: messages should focus solely on peace, transparency, and accountability. Nothing more. Nothing less. The Senator’s criticisms, therefore, were “labas sa pinag-usapan” — completely outside the agreed terms.
That short phrase has now become the turning point in the entire story. It exposed how the event had been hijacked for political drama, leaving INC leaders stunned and angered. Reports say that the rally was abruptly halted after the unauthorized speech, and that several planned parts of the program were immediately shut down — a strong indication that high-level INC officials intervened to stop the situation from worsening.
Adding fuel to the fire are rumors of the reaction from Executive Minister Eduardo V. Manalo. Sources claim he was deeply displeased upon learning that the gathering had been misused for political mudslinging. The anger reportedly wasn’t limited to the speaker. Church insiders are now whispering that some INC officials who were seen smiling, shaking hands, or casually interacting with the Senator afterward may face severe disciplinary measures — even possible expulsion — for appearing to condone an act the leadership considered a breach of trust.
This internal tightening of ranks sends an unmistakable message:
INC will not be used as a political weapon — by anyone.
DDS supporters who had rushed to portray the rally as an INC-backed rebellion against the President now face a credibility crisis. Their early victory laps have backfired, as the clarification from INC circles shows that they publicly attributed motives and approvals that never existed. In effect, they accused the church leadership of duplicity — of endorsing a demolition job while pretending neutrality. Now that this has proven false, their narrative stands exposed as misleading and opportunistic.
The unfolding fallout is particularly damaging to vloggers and political influencers who aggressively pushed the claim that “the INC has spoken.” Instead of showing strength, they now appear to have misled their audiences and unintentionally disrespected a powerful institution that values internal order above political theatrics.
The incident also highlights the volatile nature of political storytelling in the Philippines. In just a few hours, a simple misunderstanding escalated into a nationwide narrative — only to be dismantled once the true sequence of events emerged. INC was not rebelling. INC was not launching an attack. INC was blindsided, and it reacted swiftly to correct the situation.
In the end, the church’s stance is clear:
Do not speak in its name without authority — and do not use its gatherings for personal or political agendas.
For the groups that attempted to spin the rally into a narrative of church-endorsed rebellion, the message seems equally direct:
“Lagot kayo.”
You crossed a line — and the INC has now made that unmistakably clear.