Senator Christopher "Bong" Go on Saturday expressed gratitude to the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) for its message of peace, unity, and respect for Philippine law following the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

In a video message delivered in Filipino, Go said, “Thank you very much to our brothers and sisters in Iglesia ni Cristo for your support and love for fellow Filipinos.”

Wearing a t-shirt with the message, "BRING PRRD HOME," emblazoned on a red ribbon, Go commended the religious group for standing strong in its principles and for calling for calm amid national tension.

“In these times of unrest and doubt, voices that stand for the rule of law and peace are extremely important,” he said.

He urged Filipinos to unite, support the country’s judicial system, and ensure that legal processes are followed fairly and without political interference.

INC speaks out

The senator's message comes after INC spokesperson Edwil Zabala, in a Friday interview with Net 25, emphasized the importance of the rule of law and reiterated the group’s position that Filipinos must be tried under Philippine courts. Though INC did not directly reference the International Criminal Court (ICC), Zabala stressed the local judiciary’s capacity to handle such matters.

“Any Filipino who has violated our laws should be tried here in our country,” Zabala said. “Our justice system is functioning.”

Go echoed this sentiment, saying, “We have courts that remain independent and functional… Let us not be divided by differences in opinion. I pray that peace, compassion, and love for one another will prevail.”

He also reiterated the importance of seeing legal proceedings through: “I pray that justice will be served and legal processes will be respected and followed according to our laws.”

The Iglesia ni Cristo had earlier called on national leaders to prioritize unity and national interest, a call the group said had gone unheeded.