INC parries media queries on alleged hostage-taking

IGLESIA Ni Cristo (INC) Minister Edwil Zabala on Thursday held back reporters who were outside the gate of the INC amid reports of an alleged hostage incident inside the INC Central Temple.

Zabala instead referred the reporters to a compact disk (CD) of an earlier press conference announcing the expulsion of INC Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo’s mother, brother and two relatives.

According to a memorandum, a copy of which was being circulated on social media, INC has ordered expulsion of Cristina “Tenny” Villanueva Manalo, the executive minister’s mother and the widow of the late Executive Minister Eraño Manalo, as well as Felix “Angel” Nathaniel Villanueva Manalo, Marco Eraño Villanueva Manalo, and Lolita Manalo Hemedez.

Zabala said he stood outside the gate to meet media representatives asking questions about the expulsion and the controversy rocking the large and influential church, but he evaded queries and only referred to the CD.

While Zabala was answering questions from media, security personnel asked reporters for their names. The security personnel said it was for “events planning.”