Why on a weekday? Palace sees no politics in INC event

MANILA - A Palace spokesperson said she does not know why the influential Iglesia ni Cristo religious sect chose to schedule their medical and relief mission on a weekday instead of a weekend. "I will leave those questions to them. I really cannot answer for them in terms of logistics why this day or why not on a certain day. I cannot answer for them," Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said when asked why the religious group did not schedule their event on a weekend. Traffic as a result of the INC activity prompted the suspension of classes up to high school in various parts of Metro Manila on Monday. Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno also suspended work for the High Court as well as in the Court of Appeals, Court of Tax Appeals, Sandiganbayan and courts in Manila and Quezon City effective 1:30 p.m. INC's Minister of The Gospel Edwil Zabala earlier told radio dzMM that the church did not make a request to the government to suspend classes in view of today's event. Asked why the event was not done on a weekend, Zabala said: "Wala na pong ibang pagkakataon." Valte said she does not know if any official asked the INC to reschedule the church's medical, relief and evangelical missions in Manila today. She, however, noted that she sees no politics in the church's activity. "At this point, we have no reason to believe otherwise than the purpose for which it is being stated that it is a medical and dental mission," she said. She also admitted that some Palace employees are still stuck in traffic because of the INC event. She said she left early today and took the alternative routes recommended by MMDA to avoid the traffic. ANC, October 14, 2013