MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang Saturday dismissed a reported clash between the government and the influential religious group, Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC), over the group’s perceived support for embattled Chief Justice Renato C. Corona.

Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda, in an interview with government radio dzRB, said President Aquino continues to enjoy good relationship with the INC which is deemed the largest entirely indigeneous Christian religious organization. The religious group known for practicing “bloc voting” during elections, endorsed Aquino's candidacy during the 2010 presidential polls.

“As far as we know the relationship with INC is okay,” he said.

He said he does not know the basis of reports saying that the protesters who trooped to the SC last Friday to voice their support for Corona were sent by INC.

Speculations about the falling out between Aquino and the INC surfaced following the dismissal from service of former National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Magtanggol Gatdula, who is associated with the religious group.

Gatdula was sacked last month for his alleged involvement in the kidnapping of Japanese national Noriyo Ohara.

Aquino's spokesman expressed doubt that the plight of Corona could draw protests.

“As far as people power is concerned, I don’t think at this point there will be people massing in the streets insofar as Corona supporters are concerned,” Lacierda said.

Meanwhile, Lacierda maintained that the Senate should be the “sole authority in all matters related to an impeachment trial.” He was reacting on the reported pronouncements from some senators that the impeachment court should obey the Supreme Court (SC) directive barring the former from looking into the alleged dollar accounts of Corona.

He said the Senate would just become a “puppet of the SC” if it accedes to the ruling of the high tribunal despite it being “the sole trier of impeachment cases.”

Lacierda said with the SC directive, the defense can also question before the high tribunal the impeachment court's ruling that allowed the presentation of the top magistrate’s peso bank accounts that were not allegedly declared in his statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN).