Palace distances itself from Iglesia Ni Cristo row

Malacañang on Friday distanced itself from the controversy involving Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), and said police authorities have been tasked to “ensure the safety of all concerned.”

“Reports about events that have transpired involving INC officials indicate an apparent internal organizational dispute,” Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a statement.

“Be that as it may, the… Quezon City police district office and antikidnapping group have been deployed to assess the situation to ensure the safety of all concerned and that peace and order is maintained,” the Palace official added.

Over the past few days, the INC leadership and some of its ministers have traded accusations of corruption, hostage-taking and kidnapping, with the mother and younger brother of current INC leader Eduardo Manalo releasing a YouTube video appealing for help and rescue. The elder Manalo then expelled his mother Tenny, younger brother Angel and several ministers, while an INC spokesperson denied the kidnapping and hostage-taking.

Angel Manalo on Friday reiterated his accusations of corruption against INC leaders, even as he denied the earlier hostage-taking, saying that signs asking for help and rescue at the window of their INC home were posted by a child.

INC, which will celebrate its 101st founding anniversary on July 27, was led by Eraño Manalo, who headed the indigenous Philippine church for 46 years until his death in 2009.

President Aquino had declared 2014 “Iglesia ni Cristo Centennial Year.”

INC is known to be a politically influential group that reportedly votes as a bloc.

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