The varying influence of religious groups on Philippine politics was on display this month, potentially impacting the work of Congress and even the results of the midterm national and local elections scheduled for May.
On January 13, the Christian church Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) mobilized more than a million of its members in the capital Manila to call for peace and unity. The gathering, which coincided with the resumption of Congress sessions, was organized to discourage legislators from endorsing the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte. However, the INC insisted that its assembly was simply a plea for peace and sobriety amid the infighting of political clans and parties.
During the same week, a group of citizens lobbied against a Senate bill on comprehensive sexuality education for teenagers for containing provisions that allegedly contradict Christian and Islamic teachings on morality and family life. They got the attention and eventual support of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. who vowed to veto the measure for trying to inject “woke” elements into the country’s traditional set of values.
Meanwhile, some Catholic priests and bishops have announced their intent to join public gatherings on January 31 to denounce corruption, political dynasties, and the culture of impunity that undermines democracy. The planned protests by various sectors in Manila and at the EDSA Shrine (the site of two People Power uprisings) will highlight the increased allocation for pork barrel projects in the 2025 budget, aside from pushing for the impeachment of Duterte.
Despite the denial of its leaders, the INC gathering was obviously meant to dissuade legislators from supporting the impeachment initiative, which is considered by the Christian sect to be divisive and supposedly distracts the government from focusing on the people’s daily concerns. The Dutertes thanked the INC for the support whose impact could extend into the local elections as many candidates often rely on the bloc voting of the church in order to win. This is not the first time that the INC has rallied its members for a political cause; and it made an early move ahead of the 2028 presidential election by blocking the impeachment bid against Vice President Duterte.
The coalition opposed to the Senate bill on sexual education for teenagers includes several stakeholders, but most notably Christian formations that are critical of reproductive health measures. Their opposition reflects the success of conservative churches in preventing the passage of several bills related to sexual and gender rights. Their influence in policymaking plus the firm opposition of the Catholic Church hierarchy explains why the Philippines is the only country in the world without a divorce law. Filipino politicians are afraid to antagonize Catholic leaders who may be open to plural views on social issues but intransigent on matters about sexual rights and divorce.
On the other hand, Catholic groups are consistent in articulating public sentiment against corruption and abuse of power by political dynasties and their allies. They are credible and effective in sustaining the clamor for good governance. Catholic priests are among those who initiated the planned rally on January 31, which is aimed at demanding accountability from both the Marcos and Duterte camps. This emerging anti-corruption movement could gain traction in the coming weeks leading to the midterm polls especially if the opposition is able to present clear evidence of misuse of public funds by elected officials. Marcos should not dismiss the rising public outrage against the anomalous use of pork barrel since critics and political rivals could easily remind the public about the notorious legacy of plunder committed by his family.
The strong political pressure exerted by Christian church groups and religious formations this month underscores the dynamics of religion and governance in the Philippines. This is unique in Southeast Asia since the Philippines, aside from Timor-Leste, is the only Catholic-dominated country in the region. It is a reminder that churches are expected to undertake a more active role during the election campaign period, which starts next month, and that their leaders are trying to expand their influence beyond their congregations.