MANILA – The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is calling on the Philippine National Police (PNP) to fully investigate the manner by which expelled Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) member Lowell Menorca II was arrested by Manila policemen.

CHR chair Jose Luis Martin Gascon said ''at first glance'' he observed that the arresting policemen abused their authority.

Menorca, who has accused the INC leadership of ordering his abduction last year, was on his way to the Court of Appeals last January 20 when plainclothes men arrested him for a libel case filed in a court in Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte.

''At first glance, maaaring may mga paglabag sa mga alituntunin at reglamento ng tamang paraan ng pagserve ng warrant. Dahil dyan nanawagan kami sa PNP na paimbestigahan ito ng lubusan nang sa lahat ng tao, hindi lang ang naapektuhan na si Mr. Menorca, ay magkaroon ng panatag na loob,'' Gascon told dzMM.

''Kung may valid warrant of arrest issued , dapat namang i-serve, pero may tamang paraan at maling paraan. Offhand - ayaw naming manghusga - mukhang may pagmamalabis at may paglagpas sa mga alituntunin kaya dapat paimbestigahan ito."

Gascon said based on the video captured by Menorca's wife, it appeared that the police officers used excessive force in arresting the expelled INC member.

''Hindi naman ito isang hardened criminal na murder or drugs or kidnapping [ang kaso],'' he said.

''Iyung paggamit ng undue use of force, medyo nakakabahala. Kaya maraming mamamayan ang concerned dahil nung nakita nila, nalalagay din nila ang sarili nila sa ganoon."

ARRESTING COPS

The CHR chair added that while it is not illegal for policemen to wear civilian clothes in arresting someone, the circumstances in Menorca's case did not seem to warrant them to wear such.

''Under the circumstances ng kasong ito, iyung si Mr. Menorca ay on the way to court para magbigay ng testimonya. Pangalawa eh galing siya sa isang safe house, ibig sabihin, nasa kaalaman ng Department of Justice na merong Witness Protection Program ang kanyang whereabouts,'' he said.

''So medyo kaduda-duda na kailangan plainclothes ang magse-serve lalo at hindi nagpakilala agad na plainclothes sila at hindi nila ipinakita ang warrant of arrest.''

Pandacan Police Station head Supt. Ed Leonardo, an INC member who led the arresting team, told dzMM that he allowed policemen in plainclothes to accost Menorca so that he would not elude arrest.

''Ang pag-monitor sa kanya eh naka-civilian ang police natin. Kasi may warrant siya eh baka mag evade siya ng arrest,'' Leonardo said. ''Nung inaresto na siya, puro naka-uniporme ang nag-aresto."

Menorca said his arrest was really meant to prevent him from giving his testimony in a hearing on his petition for writs of amparo and habeas corpus before the Court of Appeals.

'MOTIVATION OF HARASSMENT'

Gascon, meanwhile, said there seemed to be a ''motivation of harassment'' behind the numerous libel cases filed against Menorca in various courts around the country.

To date, Menorca is facing three libel cases, one filed in Marawi City, Kapatagan in Lanao del Sur, and Cavite City.

''Mukhang mayroong motibasyon ng harassment, pero dapat tinitignan ito ng piskal. Bago umabot sa korte, ang piskal ang may hawak,'' Gascon said.

Gascon, a lawyer, said the fiscal should have determined whether Menorca's supposedly libelous speech, if not shown in national broadcast, was delivered in his area jurisdiction. Otherwise, the case should be dismissed for procedural error.

''Ayaw naman nating husgahan, pero mukhang may mga duda na kailangan tignan at ang justice ministry ang kailangan tumingin dito."

Gascon said the Department of Jusitce must place Menorca under its Witness Protection Program and the PNP should review its protocols in serving arrest warrants.

MENORCA: INC BEHIND CASES

In a press conference after he was released on bail Friday at the Ermita Police Station in Manila, Menorca said members of the Society of Communicators and Networkers (SCAN) International, an organization founded by INC Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo, will not file charges in court unless given the go-signal by the church leadership.

"You cannot file a charge representing the organization without first asking permission from the organization because that can be a reason to discipline the member... Either pinaalam or [there were] instructions coming from [INC] Central," Menorca said.

He also maintained that it is impossible that the INC did not have a hand in his arrest, saying even non-members can see the signs of the church's supposed influence.

"For people like you who do not belong in the church and a lot of other people who are observing what's happening, I think I don't need to say all the signs. You can pick up on everything that is happening," he said.

"Imposibleng walang kinalaman. Dahil pag tinrace (trace) back natin yung mga tao na may kinalaman sa harassment na ginagawa sa akin, malalaman niyo na lang bigla, Iglesia ni Cristo pala yung station commander, Iglesia ni Cristo yung arresting officer, Iglesia ni Cristo yung gustong um-escort sa akin," he added.

He said he is now leaving it to the people to decide if these are all just mere coincidence.

The INC, for its part, has denied Menorca's accusations. INC spokesman Edwil Zabala said they are no longer surprised that Menorca has again dragged the church's name to this whole controversy.

"Hindi na po bagong bagay sa amin sapagkat nagawa nga po niyang gawan kami ng storya na humantong pa sa korte, kaya kung pagkatapos nun ay meron pa siyang mga ibang bagay na sasabihin tungkol sa Iglesia ni Cristo, na sa tuwing may mangyayari sa kanya ay Iglesia ni Cristo ang itinuturo niya, so what else is new?" he said.