The headquarters of the powerful Iglesia ni Cristo on Commonwealth Avenue in Diliman, Quezon City.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has taken under its Witness Protection Program (WPP) the brother of an Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) minister who was reportedly abducted and later found in police detention in Cavite for alleged possession of a grenade.
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima confirmed this yesterday after Anthony Menorca, the younger brother of INC minister Lowell Menorca II, sought government protection from alleged threats to his and his family’s lives.
“Yes. He’s now under WPP [coverage],” De Lima said.
The elder Menorca was among the INC ministers allegedly abducted in a crackdown on church members critical of their Sanggunian (governing council), as disclosed last week by fellow members who have been vocal against their church administration. Menorca’s wife and baby were also allegedly abducted.
Menorca was later found in jail in Dasmariñas City, Cavite province, arrested for allegedly threatening construction workers with a grenade. Witnesses said he had been taken in Sorsogon province on July 17 by a group of men in a six-vehicle convoy.
But Menorca surfaced on Wednesday and denied he had been taken. News reports quoted his younger brother as saying that Menorca spoke under duress in the interview conducted by the INC spokesperson Edwil Zabala that was broadcast on Net 25, a television station run by the INC.
The crisis in the INC administration went public on July 22, after a video posted on the Internet showed Cristina “Tenny” Manalo, widow of former INC executive minister Eraño Manalo, and her son Angel calling for help and claiming that their lives were in danger. They have since been expelled from the INC.
The following day, expelled minister Isaias Samson Jr. also surfaced, saying he and his family had escaped after being placed under house arrest by the INC’s Sanggunian in his own home.
NBI investigation
Samson, former editor in chief of INC’s official publication Pasugo (God’s Message), was accused of posting articles against the church council online under the pen name Antonio Ebangelista. He denied the allegation.
READ: ‘Deep Throat’ shakes up Iglesia Ni Cristo
The blog site, which was taken down in mid July, has resumed publication. On Saturday, it reposted a call for INC members to “speak up” as well as photos and LTO registration papers of luxury vehicle supposedly purchased and used by the church leaders.
He said at least 10 INC ministers had been abducted, including Menorca, and that church ministers and other members were harboring “resentment” toward the Sanggunian for corrupt and irregular practices.
Samson and his family are currently in hiding.
De Lima earlier said the National Bureau of Investigation continues to probe the alleged abductions.
But a case of serious illegal detention will be filed against the INC Sanggunian members behind the abduction of Menorca, said a friend of his brother Anthony in a Facebook post early yesterday.
The younger Melorca plans to file the charges against the council and its staff for their participation in the abduction of the minister, said the Melorcas’ supporter who goes by the name “Sher Lock.”
“They didn’t see this coming… Sanggunian Ministers face no bail if the serious illegal detention charges prosper… with jail term of 40 years,” the post read.
The minister’s brother has the support of “a number of high caliber” lawyers who have “volunteered” their services, according to Sher Lock.
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