MANILA, July 27 -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. called on the influential religious group Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) to remain a government partner in building a stable and peaceful society, lauding its 111 years of service, discipline, and unity.

In a statement released Sunday, Marcos said the INC's long-standing commitment to service and nation-building has contributed to social cohesion and moral order across generations.

"Sa loob ng higit isang siglo, ipinahayag at pinatunayan ng pamunuan at mga kasapi ng Iglesia ni Cristo ang kanilang layunin na magsilbing huwarang mga mamamayan at mabubuting alagad ng Diyos sa pamamagitan ng paglilingkod, pagkakawanggawa, at pakikiisa sa kapwa (For more than a century, the INC leadership and mem...