About 60,000 members of the Iglesia ni Cristo from its Southern, Northern and Central Districts in Negros bore the heat of the sun to gather for their close to four hours grand evangelical mission at the Paglaum Sports Complex in Bacolod City yesterday afternoon.

Bacolod Traffic Management Unit head, Chief Insp.Luisito Acebuche, said they came in about 2,000 vehicles slowing traffic along Lacson and Hernaez streets.

Some commuters bound for Bacolod complained that there were few buses plying their routes as most of these vehicles were rented by the members of INC who attended the event.

An INC member who asked not to be identified, said that, contrary to claims circulated yesterday through text messages that the occasion was to show the group’s support for Supreme Court Justice Renato Corona, who is facing an impeachment trial, the gathering was purely religious and apolitical.

The source said that the event was aimed at promoting the doctrines and the teachings of the INC, and not to support any one. Only the ministers and INC evangelists were present at the activity and there were no politicians invited, he said.

The event was capped by a prayer of thanks for the success of the grand evangelical mission.

Allies of Corona earlier alleged that President Benigno Aquino III's previously strong ties with INC soured since the chief justice -- who has indirect links to the Iglesia -- was impeached in December, which would be condemned by the group at yesterday’s event.

But Aquino said yesterday that the conservative sect had assured him that the evangelical mission in the entire country was purely a religious event leading up to the 100th anniversary of its founding next year.

"There are others who are saying that there is a political dimension here," Aquino told reporters.

"Their official communication to us is this is part of their religious obligations and part of their faith," he added, stressing that the sect had helped him win the 2010 election.

Aquino said that politicians would normally be welcome to join the rally, but he had been advised to stay away to avoid giving "a political tinge" to the event and detracting from its "religious intention."*APN

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