I totally disagree with the idea of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to appoint Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) Executive Minister Eduardo Villanueva Manalo as Special Envoy to the President for Overseas Filipino Concerns. This is a culpable violation of the Constitution under Article II, Section 6 or commonly known as the "separation of church and state" clause.
As explained by Presidential Spokesperson and Attorney Herminio "Harry" L. Roque, Jr. during last Thursday's Malacañang Press Briefing, the "separation of church and state" as stated in the Constitution could only applies to: a) that there shall be a freedom to exercise someone's religion; and b) that the government must assure that it will not endorse any belief/religion. Roque, Jr. also pointed out that the President considered Manalo's appointment due to his network within his congregation (which is INC) that could be beneficial to the concerns of our fellow Filipinos overseas. Now the big question is: "Did the President really violated the Constitution when he appointed INC Leader Ka Eduardo Manalo to the government?" YES! But how?
Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) Executive Minister Eduardo V. Manalo's official portrait.
Photo courtesy of INC Media.
Very simple. The violation is implied. It's not a pretty obvious violation.
If we will come back to Sec. Roque, Jr.'s statement in the Press Briefing, we can see that the President's appointment to the INC Executive Minister unconstitutional following the explanation that "the government must assure that it will not endorse any belief/religion". With Manalo as the President's Special Envoy for Overseas Filipino Concerns, HE CAN ENDORSE his religion Iglesia Ni Cristo which was founded by his grandfather Felix Y. Manalo in 1914. Being a government official and a representative of the government, he must not endorse INC. But he can now do it following President Duterte's appointment to him in the government.
Iglesia Ni Cristo seal. Photo from INC website.
Then why they are some INC and even Catholics who have been appointed to the government? Are they also violating the Constitution? The answer is NO. Ka Eduardo's case is very different.
Remember, Eduardo Manalo is the Executive Minister of the Iglesia Ni Cristo. He is not an ordinary member of the sect. He is the SPIRITUAL LEADER. So his statements and actions will reflect to his spiritual stand in favor of INC. So the chance to endorse his religion to the people using his power in the government is very evident.
And if Manalo's inception to the government is not violating the Constitution, then why is it that the government never appointed Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle of the Roman Catholic Church? Obispo Maximo Most Reverend Rhee Timbang of Iglesia Filipina Independiente? Brother Eduardo Villanueva of Jesus Is Lord Church? Ruben Ecleo, Jr. of the Philippine Benevolent Missionaries Association (PBMA)? Or even Overall Servant Brother Eliseo Soriano of the Members Church of God International (MCGI) or Ang Dating Daan? That is because they can ENDORSE their religion if they will serve in the government, violating the separation of church and state clause of the Constitution.
The Iglesia Ni Cristo Central Temple at Quezon City. Photo courtesy of @LarAngeles.
I hope that Secretary Harry Roque and the President himself, as lawyers and legal experts, must consider Manalo's appointment as Overseas Filipinos Special Envoy to the President. There are some more capable and constitutionally bounded personalities who can hold the post that will help the plight of our Filipinos overseas.
The appointment paper of INC Executive Minister Eduardo V. Manalo as Special Envoy of the President for Overseas Filipino Concerns signed last February 13. Photo courtesy of Pia Rañada/Rappler.
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