Corona won’t attend INC rally

MANILA, Philippines – Chief Justice Renato Corona will not attend the huge Iglesia ni Cristo gathering on Tuesday, February 28. Supreme Court spokesman Jose Midas Marquez said in a press conference that Corona was “advised by the other justices and those close to him” not to attend it, but the chief justice nonetheless extends his congratulations to the religious group.

“We’ve been receiving a number of comments that he will use it for political purposes, so he was advised not to go,” Marquez said.

But Marquez said he himself will be attending.

The INC gathering, to be held at Quirino Grandstand at 5 pm on February 28, is said to be a show of support for Corona, who is on trial for betraying public trust, among other charges.The religious group however insisted that it is not a rally for anyone, describing the even as the “Grand Evangelical Mission and Bible Exposition.”

As of 3pm, thousands of INC members have already reached the Quirino grandstand for the rally.

Corona, along with the 14 other justices of the SC and Marquez, were invited by the group led by Eduardo Manalo.- Rappler.com