Iglesia editor in hiding, hires counsel

Expelled Iglesia ni Cristo minister Isaias Samson has hired the services of two lawyers to defend him against the cases filed by the influential sect.

Samson, who used to edit the INC’s official organ Pasugo, is represented by lawyers Rose Beatrix Cruz-Angeles and Ahmed Paglinawan.

“Our representation covers the handling of his cases both as respondent and as complainant. His statements will be released through [us],” Angeles and Paglinawan said in a statement on Monday.

They said Samson continued to receive death threats but remained determined to fight the injustice done to him and his family.

“Mr. Samson needs to speak through his counsel because for the moment the threats to his life and well-being remain real and continue. Despite this, however, he will not be silenced. He has been removed from the church but his devotion to God and his faith are unshaken,” Angeles and Paglinawan said.

“This is not a schism. This is not a doctrinal issue. This is an issue of the frailty and, in some instances, criminal behavior of persons we will identify later in the appropriate cases. His trust in God remains,” the lawyers added.

Gained attention

Samson recently gained attention as one of the ministers allegedly illegally detained by persons identified with the INC’s governing council.

He said he was detained for questioning the transactions of some members of the council. He made these questions public in a recent press conference.

Samson was later sued for the libel by the INC in the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office.

According to his lawyers, Samson was among the 10 INC ministers who were abducted or detained by the sect. Two other ministers and the brother of another have sought protection from the Department of Justice.

Samson said he and his family were detained and later expelled from the INC. He said he escaped from his captors on July 23 after being detained for over a week.

“Mr. Samson would like to make it clear that contrary to the statements made recently by INC executive minister Eduardo Manalo, the crisis brought about by corrupt practices in the church is not over. Not by a long shot. Mr. Samson seeks justice, not only for the illegal detention of himself and his family, but for the treatment of ministers and members whose sole intention is to ensure the integrity of the people who manage the church’s affairs,” the lawyers said.–Jerome Aning