Iglesia ni Cristo and Philippine elections

The Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) is known for its practice of bloc voting during elections.[1][2][3] The INC is known for issuing directives to vote for certain candidates endorsed by the church under the tenet of obedience and the advocacy of a united unit.[1] INC spokesperson Edwil Zabala has stressed the importance of unity of its members with the church leadership.[4] As a consequence, candidates often attempt to secure endorsement from the INC.[5]

Analysis

While it is conceded that the effect of the INC's bloc vote might be influential in local elections where the winning margin can only amount to a few hundred votes, the potency of it has yet to be tested convincingly in national races.[6] The INC usually announces its endorsements around a week before election day "when the rankings of the candidates in the polls have stabilized" and candidates' rankings in opinion polls seem to be an important factor on how the INC chooses candidates to support.[5]

Some candidates endorsed by the INC in senatorial elections for instance, have failed to win. During the 2016 Senate elections, INC-backed Martin Romualdez and Francis Tolentino were defeated by Leila de Lima and Kiko Pangilinan.[7]

Allen Surla, professor at De La Salle University pointed out that the INC bloc-voting has served the sect well “since they are able to negotiate with politicians' concessions that otherwise would have been denied of less organized groups". For local positions, they can bargain for the employment of their own members, in exchange for perpetual political support. “They may ask the mayor or the governor that a certain percentage of the employment be given to INC members,” Surla said. But INC spokesman Edwil Zabala, in a separate interview, strongly denied that the INC bloc-vote has strings attached to it. “We vote, that’s it. It is one of the misconceptions that after voting, we do other things. Those who assert that, they should be the ones providing proof for their assertion. We vote, that’s all".[6]

Bloc voting is also only practiced inside the Philippines and has never been practiced by members abroad given that election laws existing within their respective countries might bar it. An example in the United States is the Johnson Amendment, a provision in the U.S. tax code since 1954 that prohibits all 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations from endorsing or opposing political candidates. INC has presence in the United States as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and a conduct of bloc voting there similar to their churches in the Philippines will violate the Johnson Amendment that may lead to Internal Revenue Service investigations and a warrant of revocation of tax-exempt status.

Criticism

Edu Manzano, who ran for vice mayor in 1998 (won) and mayor in 2001 (lost) in Makati said that "letting the people decide the election rather than a bloc vote endorsement is better". In both instances INC endorsed his opponents Ernesto Mercado in 1998, and MMDA Chairman Jejomar Binay in 2001.[8] Also, Gwendolyn Garcia in 2007 berated some church officials and accusing them of "endorsement for sale", as Garcia's opponents were endorsed.[9]

Endorsements (nationally-elected candidates)

The following is the list of candidates who have been elected by the Iglesia ni Cristo. The list is limited to candidates running for president, vice president, and senators.

President

Year Rank Candidate Party Votes % Result Ref.
1935 1. Manuel Quezon Nacionalista 695,332 67.99 Won [3]
1941 1. Manuel Quezon Nacionalista 1,340,320 81.78 Won [3]
1946 1. Manuel Roxas Liberal 1,333,392 53.94 Won [3]
1949 3. Jose Avelino Liberal 419,890 11.85 Lost [3]
1961 2. Carlos P. Garcia Nacionalista 2,902,996 44.95 Lost [10]
1965 1. Ferdinand Marcos Nacionalista 3,861,324 51.94 Won [3]
1969 1. Ferdinand Marcos Nacionalista 5,017,343 61.47 Won [3]
1981 1. Ferdinand Marcos KBL 18,309,360 88.02 Won [3]
1986 1. Ferdinand Marcos KBL 10,807,197 53.62 Won [3]
1992 3. Danding Cojuangco NPC 4,116,376 18.17 Lost [11]
1998 1. Joseph Estrada LAMMP 10,722,295 39.86 Won [12]
2004 1. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Lakas 12,905,808 39.99 Won [13][14]
2010 1. Benigno Aquino III Liberal 15,208,678 42.08 Won [15][16]
2016 1. Rodrigo Duterte PDP–Laban 16,601,997 39.02 Won [17][18]
2022 1. Bongbong Marcos PFP 31,629,783 58.77 Won [19][20]

Vice President

Year Rank Candidate Party Votes % Result Ref.
1961 2. Sergio Osmeña, Jr. Independent 2,190,424 34.37 Lost [21]
1969 2. Genaro Magsaysay Liberal 2,190,424 34.37 Lost [22]
1992 1. Joseph Estrada NPC 6,739,738 33.01 Won [23]
1998 1. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Lakas 12,667,252 49.56 Won [12]
2004 1. Noli de Castro Independent 15,100,431 49.80 Won [14]
2010 2. Mar Roxas Liberal 13,918,490 39.58 Lost [15][16]
2016 2. Bongbong Marcos Independent 14,155,344 34.47 Lost [17][18]
2022 1. Sara Duterte Lakas 32,208,417 61.53 Won [19][20]

Senators

1995

The following list is incomplete, but endorsed 7 candidates from Lakas–Laban Coalition, and 5 candidates from Nationalist People's Coalition.[24]

Rank Candidate Party Coalition Votes % Result Ref.
5. Juan Flavier Lakas LABAN 10,748,528 41.76 Won [24]
6. Miriam Defensor Santiago PRP NPC 9,497,231 36.90 Won
9. Gringo Honasan Independent NPC 8,968,616 34.853 Won
15. Bongbong Marcos KBL NPC 8,168,768 31.74 Lost

2001

Rank Candidate Party Coalition Votes % Result Ref.
1. Noli de Castro Independent Independent[a] 16,237,386 55.09 Won [25]
2 Juan Flavier Lakas PPC 11,735,897 39.82 Won
3. Serge Osmeña PDP–Laban PPC 11,593,389 39.33 Won
4. Franklin Drilon Independent PPC 11,301,700 38.34 Won
5. Joker Arroyo Lakas PPC 11,262,402 38.21 Won
6. Jun Magsaysay Liberal PPC 11,250,677 38.17 Won
7. Manny Villar Independent PPC 11,187,375 37.96 Won
8. Kiko Pangilinan Liberal PPC 10,971,896 37.23 Won
9. Ed Angara LDP PnM 10,805,177 36.66 Won
10. Panfilo Lacson LDP PnM 10,535,559 35.74 Won
11. Loi Ejercito Independent PnM 10,524,130 35.71 Won
12. Ralph Recto Lakas PPC 10,480,940 35.56 Won
15. Miriam Defensor Santiago PRP PnM 9,622,742 32.65 Lost

2004

Rank Candidate Party Coalition Votes % Result Ref.
1. Mar Roxas Liberal K4 19,372,888 54.56 Won [26]
2 Bong Revilla Lakas K4 15,801,531 44.50 Won
3. Nene Pimentel PDP–Laban KNP 13,519,998 38.07 Won
4. Jamby Madrigal LDP KNP 13,253,692 37.32 Won
7. Miriam Defensor Santiago PRP K4 12,187,401 34.32 Won
8. Alfredo Lim PMP KNP 11,286,428 31.78 Won
9. Juan Ponce Enrile PMP KNP 11,191,162 31.52 Won
10. Jinggoy Estrada PMP KNP 11,094,120 31.24 Won
12. Rodolfo Biazon Liberal K4 10,635,270 29.95 Won
13. Robert Barbers Lakas K4 10,624,585 29.92 Lost
14. Ernesto Maceda NPC KNP 9,944,328 28.00 Lost
15. John Henry Osmeña NPC K4 9,914,179 27.92 Lost

2007

Rank Candidate Party Coalition Votes % Result Ref.
1 Loren Legarda NPC GO 18,501,734 62.72 Won [27]
2 Chiz Escudero NPC GO 18,265,307 61.92 Won
3 Ping Lacson UNO GO 15,509,188 52.58 Won
4 Manny Villar Nacionalista GO 15,338,412 52.00 Won
5 Kiko Pangilinan Liberal Independent 14,534,678 49.27 Won
6 Noynoy Aquino Liberal GO 14,309,349 48.51 Won
7 Ed Angara LDP TEAM Unity 12,657,769 42.91 Won
8 Joker Arroyo KAMPI TEAM Unity 11,803,107 40.01 Won
12 Migz Zubiri[b] Lakas TEAM Unity 11,005,866 37.31 Won
14 Ralph Recto Lakas TEAM Unity 10,721,252 36.34 Lost
14 Mike Defensor Lakas TEAM Unity 9,938,995 33.69 Lost
19 Tito Sotto NPC TEAM Unity 7,638,361 25.89 Lost

2010

Rank Candidate Party Votes % Result Ref.
1. Bong Revilla Lakas 19,513,521 51.15 Won [28]
2. Jinggoy Estrada PMP 18,925,925 49.61 Won
3. Miriam Defensor Santiago PRP 17,344,742 45.47 Won
4. Franklin Drilon Liberal 15,871,117 41.60 Won
5. Juan Ponce Enrile PMP 15,665,618 41.06 Won
6. Pia Cayetano Nacionalista 13,679,511 35.86 Won
7. Bongbong Marcos Nacionalista 13,169,634 34.52 Won
8. Ralph Recto Liberal 12,436,960 32.60 Won
9. Tito Sotto NPC 11,891,711 31.17 Won
11. Lito Lapid Lakas 11,025,805 28.90 Won
12. TG Guingona Liberal 10,277,352 26.94 Won
16. Ruffy Biazon Liberal 8,626,514 22.61 Lost

2013

Rank Candidate Party Coalition Votes % Result Ref.
1 Grace Poe Independent Team PNoy 20,337,327 50.66 Won [29]
2 Loren Legarda NPC Team PNoy 18,661,196 46.49 Won
3 Alan Peter Cayetano Nacionalista Team PNoy 17,580,813 43.79 Won
5 Nancy Binay UNA UNA 16,812,148 41.88 Won
6 Sonny Angara LDP Team PNoy 16,005,564 39.87 Won
7 Bam Aquino Liberal Team PNoy 15,534,465 38.70 Won
9 Sonny Trillanes Nacionalista Team PNoy 14,127,722 35.19 Won
10 Cynthia Villar Nacionalista Team PNoy 13,822,854 34.43 Won
11 JV Ejercito PMP UNA 13,684,736 34.09 Won
12 Gringo Honasan Independent UNA 13,211,424 32.91 Won
13 Dick Gordon Bagumbayan UNA 12,501,991 31.14 Lost
15 Jack Enrile NPC UNA 11,543,024 28.75 Lost

2016

Rank Candidate Party Coalition Votes % Result Ref.
1 Franklin Drilon Liberal KDM 18,607,391 41.37 Won [30]
2 Joel Villanueva Liberal KDM 18,459,222 41.04 Won
3 Tito Sotto NPC PGP 17,200,371 38.24 Won
4 Panfilo Lacson Independent KDM 16,926,152 37.63 Won
5 Richard "Dick" Gordon Independent PGP 16,719,322 37.17 Won
6 Migz Zubiri Independent PGP 16,119,165 35.84 Won
7 Manny Pacquiao UNA UNA 16,050,546 35.68 Won
9 Risa Hontiveros Akbayan KDM 15,915,213 35.38 Won
10 Sherwin Gatchalian NPC PGP 14,953,768 33.25 Won
11 Ralph Recto Liberal KDM 14,271,868 31.73 Won
13 Francis Tolentino Independent PRP 12,811,098 28.48 Lost
15 Martin Romualdez Lakas PRP 12,325,824 27.40 Lost

2019

Rank Candidate Party Coalition Votes % Result Ref.
1. Cynthia Villar Nacionalista Hugpong 25,283,727 53.46 Won [31]
2 Grace Poe Independent Independent 22,029,788 46.58 Won
3. Bong Go PDP–Laban Hugpong 20,657,702 43.68 Won
4. Pia Cayetano Nacionalista Hugpong 19,789,019 41.84 Won
5. Ronald dela Rosa PDP–Laban Hugpong 19,004,225 40.18 Won
6. Sonny Angara LDP Hugpong 18,161,862 38.40 Won
7. Lito Lapid NPC NPC 16,965,464 35.87 Won
8. Imee Marcos Nacionalista Hugpong 15,882,628 33.58 Won
9. Francis Tolentino PDP–Laban Hugpong 15,510,026 32.79 Won
11. Bong Revilla Lakas Hugpong 14,624,445 30.92 Won
12. Nancy Binay UNA UNA 14,504,936 30.67 Won
15. Jinggoy Estrada PMP Hugpong 11,359,305 24.02 Lost

2022

Rank Candidate Party Votes % Result Ref.
1. Robin Padilla PDP–Laban 27,027,235 48.23 Won [32]
2. Loren Legarda NPC 24,367,564 43.48 Won
4. Win Gatchalian NPC 20,678,804 36.89 Won
5. Francis Escudero NPC 20,320,069 36.26 Won
6. Mark Villar Nacionalista 19,563,262 34.91 Won
7. Alan Peter Cayetano Independent 19,359,758 34.54 Won
8. Migz Zubiri Independent 18,931,207 33.78 Won
9. Joel Villanueva Independent 18,539,537 33.08 Won
11. JV Ejercito NPC 15,901,891 28.37 Won
12. Jinggoy Estrada PMP 15,174,288 27.08 Won
13. Jejomar Binay UNA 13,348,887 23.82 Lost
16. Guillermo Eleazar Reporma 11,360,526 20.27 Lost

2025

Only 8 candidates were endorsed by the sect:

Rank Candidate Party Coalition Votes % Result Ref.
1 Bong Go PDP DuterTen 27,121,073 6.33 Won [33]
2 Bam Aquino KANP KiBam 20,971,899 4.89 Won
3 Ronald dela Rosa PDP DuterTen 20,773,946 4.85 Won
6 Rodante Marcoleta Independent DuterTen 15,250,723 3.56 Won
9 Pia Cayetano Nacionalista Alyansa 14,573,430 3.40 Won
10 Camille Villar Nacionalista Alyansa[c] 13,651,274 3.19 Won
12 Imee Marcos Nacionalista Independent[c][d] 13,339,227 3.11 Won
14 Bong Revilla Lakas Alyansa 12,027,845 2.81 Lost

Endorsements on local executives

The following are those endorsed in local elections by the sect:

Manila

Mayor

Year Rank Candidate Party Votes % Result Ref.
2019 1. Isko Moreno Asenso 357,925 50.15 Won [34]
2022 1. Honey Lacuna Asenso 538,595 63.68 Won [35]
2025 1. Isko Moreno Aksyon 530,825 59.02 Won [36]

Vice Mayor

Year Rank Candidate Party Votes % Result Ref.
2019 1. Honey Lacuna Asenso 394,766 57.28 Won [34]
2022 1. Yul Servo Asenso 586,855 73.67 Won [35]
2025 1. Chi Atienza Aksyon 584,145 66.65 Won [36]

Makati

Mayor

Year Rank Candidate Party Votes % Result Ref.
2001 1. Jejomar Binay PDP–Laban 137,030 65.49 Won [37]
2025 2. Luis Campos NPC 85,664 41.97 Lost [38]

Vice Mayor

Year Rank Candidate Party Votes % Result Ref.
1998 2. Ernesto S. Mercado PDP–Laban 100,894 38.95 Lost [37]
2001 1. Ernesto S. Mercado PDP–Laban 115,696 56.97 Won [37]
2025 1. Kid Peña NPC 146,771 73.00 Won [38]

Malabon

Mayor

Year Rank Candidate Party Votes % Result Ref.
2025 1. Jeannie Sandoval Nacionalista 120,757 51.63 Won [39]


Quezon City

Mayor

Year Rank Candidate Party Votes % Result Ref.
2019 1. Joy Belmonte SBP 469,480 54.09 Won [40]
2022 1. Joy Belmonte SBP 662,611 60.43 Won [41]

Vice Mayor

Year Rank Candidate Party Votes % Result Ref.
2022 1. Gian Sotto SBP 594,170 56.51 Won [41]

Notes

  1. ^ Guest candidate of Puwersa ng Masa
  2. ^ Migz Zubiri was later removed from office in favor of Koko Pimentel who won an election protest.
  3. ^ a b Guest candidates of DuterTen
  4. ^ Originally ran with Alyansa prior to her withdrawal on March 26

References

  1. ^ a b Quismundo, Tarra. "Expelled Iglesia ni Cristo minister's lawyer says bloc voting may be no more". Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  2. ^ "Analyst: Other Christian groups can negate INC bloc vote for Marcos, Duterte". ABS-CBN News. May 4, 2022. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Iglesia Ni Cristo endorsements and how the presidential candidates fared in the past elections". Philstar Life. The Philippine Star. May 4, 2022. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  4. ^ Cahiles, Gerg (April 6, 2019). "Politics of recognition: The power of religious endorsement in the 2019 polls". CNN Philippines. Archived from the original on May 25, 2022. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  5. ^ a b Baclig, Cristina Eloisa (May 5, 2022). "INC endorsements: Do they matter?". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  6. ^ a b Rufo, Aries (July 27, 2014). "How potent is the INC's vote delivery system?". www.rappler.com. Retrieved November 18, 2025.
  7. ^ Santos, Reynaldo Jr. (May 22, 2016). "Is Iglesia ni Cristo's bloc voting still strong in 2016?". www.rappler.com. Retrieved November 18, 2025.
  8. ^ Sy, Marvin (May 15, 2001). "Elections in Makati generally peaceful". www.philstar.com. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  9. ^ "Gov. Garcia hits Iglesia Ni Cristo". Philstar.com. May 22, 2007. Retrieved June 19, 2025.
  10. ^ The Winners ’61, November, 1961. November 1961. The Philippines Free Press.
  11. ^ Shenon, Philip (May 11, 1992). "Under Marcos's Shadow, Filipinos Vote in Close Race". The New York Times. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  12. ^ a b Vanzi, Sol Jose (May 7, 1998). "Iglesia ni Cristo Endorses Erap-Gloria". Headline News Philippines. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  13. ^ "Arroyo wins Philippine election". Al Jazeera. June 20, 2004. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  14. ^ a b Sy, Marvin; Villanueva, Marichu (May 7, 2004). "INC, Shaddai endorse GMA". The Philippine Star. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  15. ^ a b "List of Candidates for President and Vice-President with Votes Obtained" (PDF). Commission on Elections. September 29, 2015. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  16. ^ a b Macairan, Evelyn (May 6, 2010). "INC picks Aquino, Roxas". The Philippine Star. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  17. ^ a b "Joint Public Session: Resolution of Both Houses No. 1" (PDF). Congress of the Philippines. May 30, 2016. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  18. ^ a b "Duterte, Marcos get INC endorsement for May 9 polls". CNN Philippines. May 2, 2016. Archived from the original on May 25, 2022. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  19. ^ a b "National Canvassing 2022 - Joint Session of Congress". House of Representatives. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  20. ^ a b Gulleand, Jimbo; Pañares, Joyce Pangco (May 3, 2025). "INC endorses BBM, Sara". Manila Standard. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  21. ^ Soliven, Maximo (1962). "The Elections 1961". Philippine Studies. 10 (1): 3–31. doi:10.13185/2244-1638.2789.
  22. ^ How Lopez won. November 1969. The Philippines Free Press.
  23. ^ Rivas, Ralf (June 17, 2020). "Kingmaker: Danding Cojuangco's presidential bid and the ghost of coco levy". RAPPLER. Retrieved July 16, 2025. Parreño said in his book that Cojuangco's Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC), with the help of the influential Iglesia ni Cristo, convinced Estrada to run for vice president instead. In return, Cojuangco would support Estrada in the 1998 presidential elections.
  24. ^ a b "Iglesia picks 7-5 mix for Senate". news.google.com. May 5, 1995. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  25. ^ "8-5 ang iboboto ng INC sa mga senador". Philstar.com. May 12, 2001. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  26. ^ Sy, Marvin; Villanueva, Marichu A. "INC, Shaddai endorse GMA". Philstar.com. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
  27. ^ Porcalla, Delon; Diaz, Jess (May 10, 2007). "Iglesia endorsement favors TU Senate bets 6-5-1". Philstar.com. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  28. ^ Macairan, Evelyn. "INC picks Aquino, Roxas". The Philippine Star.
  29. ^ Porcalla, Delon. "INC endorses 7 Team PNoy, 5 UNA bets". Philstar.com. Retrieved April 18, 2025.
  30. ^ Ramirez, Robertson. "INC endorses Duterte-Marcos". Philstar.com. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
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  32. ^ Escosio, Jan V. (May 3, 2022). "INC endorses BBM-Sara; find out 12 Senate bets that it is backing". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  33. ^ Lalu, Gabriel Pabico (May 9, 2025). "Iglesia ni Cristo endorses 8 Senate bets". Inquirer.net. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
  34. ^ a b "Isko Moreno, Lacuna get INC support". The Manila Times. May 8, 2019. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
  35. ^ a b Ong, Ghlo (May 6, 2022). "INC endorses Lacuna's bid for mayor". Philstar.com. Retrieved May 13, 2025.
  36. ^ a b Escosio, Jan (May 5, 2025). "Iglesia ni Cristo endorses Isko Moreno, Chi Atienza for Manila". Inquirer.net. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
  37. ^ a b c Sy, Marvin (May 15, 2001). "Elections in Makati generally peaceful". www.philstar.com. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  38. ^ a b Garcia, Patrick (May 9, 2025). "Campos-Peña tandem secures INC backing for Makati mayor, vice mayor posts". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
  39. ^ Nicol, Hannah (May 7, 2025). "Sandovals of Malabon get INC endorsement". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
  40. ^ Mateo, Janvic (May 10, 2019). "Joy Belmonte gets Iglesia endorsement". The Philippine Star. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
  41. ^ a b Mateo, Janvic (May 7, 2022). "INC endorses Lacuna's bid for mayor". The Philippine Star. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
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