MANILA, Philippines – Members of Iglesia Ni Cristo filed a criminal complaint against resigned New Bilibid Prisons chief Ernesto Diokno and two others for not allowing them to perform worship services.
In consolidated sworn affidavits, some 2,000 INC members detained at the NBP maximum and medium security compounds said Diokno, together with Superintendent Richard Schwarzkopf and Father Robert Olaguer, violated Sections 3 of Republic Act No. 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) for causing undue injury to them.
The complainants said respondents directed NBP prison guards not to allow the minister of INC assigned to officiate the worship services to enter to the premises of the two compounds last May 1 and 5 at 12:45 p.m. and on May 7 and 8 at 9:00 a.m. and 12:45 p.m.
Complainants added that the jail guards informed them that that there was a memorandum/ order issued by respondents relative to the change of schedule of visiting day and visiting hours allowed for religious workers.
The counsel for the INC members, lawyer Restituto Lazaro, said that the respondents also violated Civil Service Commission RESO No. 991936 (Revised Uniform Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service) constituting “gross neglect of duty, abuse of authority, unfair discrimination in rendering public service due to party’s affiliation or preference and Conduct Grossly Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service.”
Diokno resigned from office after former Batangas governor Antonio Leviste went out of prison without permission.