Former minister a personal witness of corruption inside INC

Suspended INC minister Isaias Samson Jr. details his “house arrest” under the INC Sanggunian in a hastily-called press conference in Manila, after he and his family escaped. PHOTO BY TARRA QUISMUNDO

A former minister of the Iglesia ni Cristo revealed on Friday that he is a personal witness to the corruption practices that thrive inside the influential church.

“Ako mismo ay pruweba,” Isaias Samson Jr., former editor in chief of Pasugo, official publication of INC, said in an interview over Radyo Inquirer 990 AM.

Samson, who is also a former chief of the church’s overseas mission, detailed how corruption happens inside the Iglesia through the irregular use of the church funds.

He cited an example where tithes from its members in America, which are supposed to be deposited in the bank, were directly collected by some higher officials without undergoing proper record.

“Ang kanilang pinaggagawa ngayon ay kinasisira ng INC,” he said.

He said he told ministers of Iglesia about these practices, but nobody believed in him.

He said Randel Cortes, who is part of the INC Sanggunian, told him, “Ay hindi totoo yan. Walang ganyan; kami ay nagpunta sa iba’t ibang distrito at in-interview namin ang mga ministro at ang mga manggagawa, mga Kapatid, at hindi totoong nagaganap ang mga bagay na yan,” he said.

The revelations of Samson came after Cristina “Tenny” Villanueva Manalo, widow of the late INC Executive Minister Eraño Manalo, and son, Felix Nathaniel “Angel” Villanueva Manalo, posted a video on YouTube asking for help.

Samson claimed that he and his family was held hostage by some members of the INC Sanggunian, but the church has denied this allegation.

Samson and his family managed to escape when they attended “samba” or their religious mass after their week long ordeal of not being allowed to leave their house.

During their alleged house arrest, they did not have any communication to the outside world since their cellphones, laptops, and computers were seized.

The former minister said he and his family is now hiding because of fear for their security.

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