The 106 congressmen who will endorse the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte may become ‘marked’ candidates who will not get the support of block-voting Iglesia ni Cristo voters in the 2025 elections.

This is the view of several members of the House of Representatives and their campaign teams as they prepare for next year’s political exercise.

The INC has aired its opposition to the impeachment complaint against Duterte, saying that it will demonstrate its stand by mounting a massive demonstration against it.

“We benefitted from INC support in the 2022 elections, it might not happen again if we go against the wishes of their leaders,” a key member of a Luzon congressman’s campaign staff commented when asked about his candidate’s reaction.

Requesting anonymity, a House member who is known to be a staunch supporter of the move to impeach Duterte has started to reconsider this position.

“I have not made up my mind yet. Malamang hindi na ako pumirma sakaling tawagan ako,” the lawmaker said.

Almost simultaneously with the INC’s announcement of its planned protest rally, the Makabayan bloc revealed that it launched a signature drive among congressmen to fasttrack the impeachment proceedings in the Lower House.

By gathering signatures of 106 congressmen, the move to remove Duterte as vice president bypass Committee on Justice proceedings as the complaint itself will be accepted as the Articles of Impeachment that will be submitted to the Senate.

Under the rules of impeachment of the Lower House, a vote of 1/3, in the current case 106 congressmen, is required to abbreviate the proceedings that will impeach Duterte.

Meanwhile, details of the INC rally have yet to be released to the public even as the Metro Manila Development Authority on Friday (December 6) revealed that it has not yet received any notice from the religious group.

MMDA Chairperson Romando Artes underscored the importance of coordination between his office and the INC to ensure orderly and peaceful conduct of the mass action.

The INC rally was announced Wednesday during a program on the INC’s media outlet.

“Ang mga kapatid sa INC ay naghahanda na magsagawa gn rally upang ipahayag sa lahat ang kinauukulan na ang INC ay pabor sa opinyon ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos na hindi sumang-ayon sa isusulong ng iba’t-ibang sektor na impeachment dahil maraming problema ang ating bansa na dapat unahin ng pamahalaan,” the program host said as he read a statement in the program.