The court-supervised inspection at the Iglesia Ni Cristo compound on Dec. 16 has proven the falsity and absurdity of the allegations made by expelled members Angelo Manalo and Lottie Hemedez especially in regard to their claims of threats to their freedom of movement and that they were barricaded within the compound against their will.
INC spokesperson Edwil Zabala stressed that contrary to reports, the inspection was requested by officials of the INC, who asked the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 222 to inspect the INC-owned compound at No. 36 Tandang Sora Avenue, Quezon City currently being occupied by Manalo and Hemedez to identify the occupants of the compound.
“We wish to emphasize that it was the INC leadership that requested the court for an ocular inspection, because we wanted the court to see for itself that we are in no way restricting the movements of Manalo and Hemedez in the compound, and that they are free to come and go as they please,” explained Zabala.
“We are glad that we were able to show the authorities that the claims of the expelled members are absurd and false.”
In October, the INC filed a petition for injunction barring unauthorized visitors in the compound following reports that unknown masked and hooded persons were going in and out of the property which is just beside the INC Central Office including a report of armed persons seen inside the said property. The court ordered the ocular inspection to ascertain the number and identity of persons occupying and visiting the property.
Zabala stressed that their camp also requested the court to compel Manalo and Hemedez to provide a list of the persons inside the compound, but the two have yet to comply with the court directive.
“The house being occupied by Manalo and Hemedez is owned by the Church. Having been expelled from the Church, Manalo and Hemedez no longer have the authority to stay in the property,” Zabala clarified.
“As custodian of the Church, the INC leadership has both the legal authority and the moral responsibility to ensure that Church-owned properties are not being used for illegal activities and for purposes contrary to the teachings of the Church,” added the minister.
According to Zabala, this was why the INC found it necessary to look into reports that armed men were being allowed inside the compound by Manalo and Hemedez. In October, several ex-marines tried to go inside the INC Compound led by Capt. Nicanor Faeldon and were stopped by INC Security.
“We want to know who they are and what they are there for,” Zabala said. “This is a genuine cause for concern. They are occupying a property very close to the Central Office and they have these unauthorized and suspicious persons with them. One was brought out a few weeks ago—and we were all surprised to find out he was dead. The circumstances to that death remain unexplained.”
Zabala urged Manalo and Hemedez to stop publicly disparaging the church, and air their grievances in the proper venue, such as the court.
“If they have genuine faith in the doctrines of the Church, I call on them to stop publicly shaming the INC and sowing intrigues inside the Church. I hope they let the court processes work, instead of resorting to trial by publicity.” With a report from Rio Araja