Menorca asks INC: Stop kidnappings, detention | ABS-CBN
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Menorca asks INC: Stop kidnappings, detention
Menorca asks INC: Stop kidnappings, detention
ABS-CBN News
Published Jan 27, 2016 01:28 PM PHT
MANILA - Expelled Iglesia Ni Cristo member Lowell Menorca II on Wednesday listed down five requests to the INC leadership including an appeal to the religious sect to stop the kidnapping and illegal detention of members.
MANILA - Expelled Iglesia Ni Cristo member Lowell Menorca II on Wednesday listed down five requests to the INC leadership including an appeal to the religious sect to stop the kidnapping and illegal detention of members.
Speaking to ANC's Headstart, Menorca said he is not out to destroy the church but to expose wrongdoing and effect change in the INC leadership.
Speaking to ANC's Headstart, Menorca said he is not out to destroy the church but to expose wrongdoing and effect change in the INC leadership.
Asked if he believes the Iglesia can detain its ministers or members using violence, he said: "I would rather say no but it just so happens that we experienced it. We are living witnesses to what happened...We constantly fear for our lives."
Asked if he believes the Iglesia can detain its ministers or members using violence, he said: "I would rather say no but it just so happens that we experienced it. We are living witnesses to what happened...We constantly fear for our lives."
Menorca was one of several INC members and ministers who allegedly went missing amid a leadership crisis between INC Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo and members of his family including mother, Cristina "Tenny" Manalo, brother Angel Manalo and sister, Lottie Hemedez, last year.
Menorca was one of several INC members and ministers who allegedly went missing amid a leadership crisis between INC Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo and members of his family including mother, Cristina "Tenny" Manalo, brother Angel Manalo and sister, Lottie Hemedez, last year.
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In a YouTube video, Tenny Manalo urged the Iglesia faithful to help ministers who were allegedly kidnapped. She also asked for a dialogue with her son, Eduardo, the current INC executive minister.
In a YouTube video, Tenny Manalo urged the Iglesia faithful to help ministers who were allegedly kidnapped. She also asked for a dialogue with her son, Eduardo, the current INC executive minister.
Tenny, Lottie and Angel Manalo were later expelled by the church. Several of the alleged missing INC members, including Menorca, later surfaced in a television interview with the INC-owned Net 25 and denied the abduction.
Tenny, Lottie and Angel Manalo were later expelled by the church. Several of the alleged missing INC members, including Menorca, later surfaced in a television interview with the INC-owned Net 25 and denied the abduction.
Menorca, however, escaped detention and claimed he was kidnapped by police officers in his district in Sorsogon, interrogated for 17 hours and nearly killed before being brought to the INC Central compound where he was detained.
Menorca, however, escaped detention and claimed he was kidnapped by police officers in his district in Sorsogon, interrogated for 17 hours and nearly killed before being brought to the INC Central compound where he was detained.
Last week, police in civilian clothes arrested Menorca on libel charges while he was on his way to the Court of Appeals to attend a hearing. One of the arresting officers confirmed that he is a member of the INC.
Last week, police in civilian clothes arrested Menorca on libel charges while he was on his way to the Court of Appeals to attend a hearing. One of the arresting officers confirmed that he is a member of the INC.
The INC through its spokesman Edwil Zabala denied that the church was involved in the arrest but confirmed that members of the SCAN International filed several libel complaints against Menorca.
The INC through its spokesman Edwil Zabala denied that the church was involved in the arrest but confirmed that members of the SCAN International filed several libel complaints against Menorca.
'NO MORE CHECK AND BALANCE'
In the ANC interview, Menorca claimed that the INC leadership had started to behave differently after the death of the late INC Executive Minister Ka Erdy Manalo.
In the ANC interview, Menorca claimed that the INC leadership had started to behave differently after the death of the late INC Executive Minister Ka Erdy Manalo.
Some members, he said, had started to question why the INC was now selling its properties and getting loans from banks.
Some members, he said, had started to question why the INC was now selling its properties and getting loans from banks.
"This did not happen overnight in one snap. There were changes from the doctrine that we received way, way before pa. Nung nagkakaroon na ng pagbabago, the brethren were beginning to ask why. Nung naghahanap na ng kasagutan, dun na nag-umpisa yung suppression," he said.
"This did not happen overnight in one snap. There were changes from the doctrine that we received way, way before pa. Nung nagkakaroon na ng pagbabago, the brethren were beginning to ask why. Nung naghahanap na ng kasagutan, dun na nag-umpisa yung suppression," he said.
Menorca said one way that the INC leadership had protected itself from controversy in the past was a system of reportage that allowed an ordinary member to raise a complaint at his local INC church. The complaint would then be resolved at the local level or elevated to the next level until it reached INC headquarters.
Menorca said one way that the INC leadership had protected itself from controversy in the past was a system of reportage that allowed an ordinary member to raise a complaint at his local INC church. The complaint would then be resolved at the local level or elevated to the next level until it reached INC headquarters.
This process of check and balance, he said, which led some members to put up the anti-INC blog written by a certain Antonio Ebangelista.
This process of check and balance, he said, which led some members to put up the anti-INC blog written by a certain Antonio Ebangelista.
Menorca also criticized the alleged harassment of members of the Manalo family who have been expelled by the church but continue to reside at their ancestral home in 36 Tandang Sora in Quezon City.
Menorca also criticized the alleged harassment of members of the Manalo family who have been expelled by the church but continue to reside at their ancestral home in 36 Tandang Sora in Quezon City.
He noted that water and electricity to the house was cut off, fences put up around the house and armed guards stationed outside to prevent people from coming in. He said the INC has also defied a court order to restore power and water to the house.
He noted that water and electricity to the house was cut off, fences put up around the house and armed guards stationed outside to prevent people from coming in. He said the INC has also defied a court order to restore power and water to the house.
"It is like a war zone already. There is a lot of police presence and security guards with guns, ready to point at anybody who would try to give relief to the people inside," he said.
"It is like a war zone already. There is a lot of police presence and security guards with guns, ready to point at anybody who would try to give relief to the people inside," he said.
FIVE REQUESTS
Asked what he wants to happen in the INC, Menorca urged the INC to conduct a full and transparent internal investigation on the alleged irregularities committed by members of the INC Sanggunian.
Asked what he wants to happen in the INC, Menorca urged the INC to conduct a full and transparent internal investigation on the alleged irregularities committed by members of the INC Sanggunian.
"They are hiding behind the clout of the executive minister na para bang untouchable sila," he said.
"They are hiding behind the clout of the executive minister na para bang untouchable sila," he said.
He also said he wants those in the church involved in illegal activities" particularly kidnapping, detention, grave threat and coercion" to face charges. "Lahat na nagkasala - pulis, kapatid o ministro - ay mapanagot sila," he said.
He also said he wants those in the church involved in illegal activities" particularly kidnapping, detention, grave threat and coercion" to face charges. "Lahat na nagkasala - pulis, kapatid o ministro - ay mapanagot sila," he said.
He earlier accused NCRPO chief Joel Pagdilao as one of the police officers who led his arrest in July 16, 2015, a charge that Pagdilao denied.
He earlier accused NCRPO chief Joel Pagdilao as one of the police officers who led his arrest in July 16, 2015, a charge that Pagdilao denied.
Menorca also urged the INC Executive Minister to talk to his mother and siblings in a closed-door meeting "so that he will know what is happening."
Menorca also urged the INC Executive Minister to talk to his mother and siblings in a closed-door meeting "so that he will know what is happening."
His fourth request to the INC: stop the kidnappings.
His fourth request to the INC: stop the kidnappings.
"Sana yung mga nangyayari tulad ng kidnapping at illegal detention ay matigil na," he said.
"Sana yung mga nangyayari tulad ng kidnapping at illegal detention ay matigil na," he said.
Finally, he also urged the INC leadership to welcome back members who liked or shared Facebook posts about the alleged irregularities inside the INC, saying these members should have undergone due process before they were expelled.
Finally, he also urged the INC leadership to welcome back members who liked or shared Facebook posts about the alleged irregularities inside the INC, saying these members should have undergone due process before they were expelled.
During the interview, Menorca said he has no intention of joining a different church or putting up his own religion. He said that despite all the challenges, his heart is still with the Iglesia ni Cristo.
During the interview, Menorca said he has no intention of joining a different church or putting up his own religion. He said that despite all the challenges, his heart is still with the Iglesia ni Cristo.
"Funny thing nga, ngayon na tiwalag na ako andami na humihikayat sa akin na umanib sa kanilang relihiyon. May nagsasabi pa na magtayo ng sariling religion pero no. Ang puso namin at puso ng buong pamilya namin nasa Iglesia ni Cristo, Pagka naayos na lahat ito, doon kami babalik dahil nandoon ang aral na sinasampalatayaan namin," he said.
"Funny thing nga, ngayon na tiwalag na ako andami na humihikayat sa akin na umanib sa kanilang relihiyon. May nagsasabi pa na magtayo ng sariling religion pero no. Ang puso namin at puso ng buong pamilya namin nasa Iglesia ni Cristo, Pagka naayos na lahat ito, doon kami babalik dahil nandoon ang aral na sinasampalatayaan namin," he said.
ABS-CBN News tried to get the side of the INC but they declined.
ABS-CBN News tried to get the side of the INC but they declined.
In a message, INC spokesman Edwil Zabala maintained the INC position that "speculations and statements outside the court whether from the INC or any other party do not help in determining the truth on Mr. Menorca's allegations."
In a message, INC spokesman Edwil Zabala maintained the INC position that "speculations and statements outside the court whether from the INC or any other party do not help in determining the truth on Mr. Menorca's allegations."
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