With the beginning of a new era in the Philippines, the Members Church of God International (MCGI) prays that newly-sworn-in Philippine President Benigno Aquino III will be more compassionate to the poor and fair in dealing with religious groups regardless of their faith and beliefs.

In his recent blog post, MCGI Presiding Minister Bro. Eli Soriano said that June 30, 2010 not only marked a new beginning for the poverty-stricken Philippines but an end to the nine-year reign of a government “most offensive and unfair” to the members of the Church of God International. MCGI is more popularly known as Ang Dating Daan after its popular radio-TV program.

For this development, Bro. Eli said the whole congregation thanks the Lord.

Under Gloria Arroyo’s government, Bro. Eli believed his human and religious rights were violated when he was illegally suspended for a quarter of a year by the country’s Movie Television Regulation and Classification Board (MTRCB) chaired by Consoliza Laguardia. Laguardia is publicly known as an appointee of the former president supported by the Iglesia ni Cristo headed by Eraño Manalo.

“During Arroyo’s government, I was illegally suspended by the MTRCB, under the Office of the President Arroyo and upon the influence of the Iglesia ni Manalo, (in violation of my basic human and religious rights) ... In fact, there was a series of suspensions to favor the slightest initiation of the INCM (Iglesia ni Cristo ni Manalo),” Bro. Eli, host of the 29-year-old Ang Dating Daan (The Old Path) program, wrote in his June 30 blog.

The international preacher said the Supreme Court decision cited judges’ arguments that the MTRCB suspension was illegal.

He particularly cited some portion of the Supreme Court decision docketed as G.R. No. 164785, which indicated: “The MTRCB, to be sure, may prohibit the broadcast of such television programs or cancel permits for exhibition, but it may not suspend television personalities, for such would be beyond its jurisdiction. The MTRCB cannot extend its exercise of regulation beyond what the law provides.” [See related blog post, "Powers That Should Not Be"]

Bro. Eli hopes that the 15th president of the republic, who officially took office yesterday, will keep his promise to investigate all the scandals that characterized Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s government.

Pulse Asia consistently cited the Philippines as the most corrupt nation during the president’s administration, with Arroyo reportedly emerging in surveys as the most corrupt of all presidents who have lead the country.

Bro. Eli also called on the congregants of the Church of God to pray, make a wish, make intercessions, and offer thanksgiving to God for the new leaders of the Philippine government.

“May the good Lord bless the new government and the people of the Philippines!,” prays Bro. Eli.