Binay: Palace ‘obsessed’ in controlling Iglesia Ni Cristo

VICE President Jejomar Binay blasted the supposed “obsession” of the Aquino administration in pursuing the investigation on the alleged abductions of Iglesia Ni Cristo ministers.

Binay said that the Department of Justice and the Palace should respect the independence of the religious group.

“The issue that the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) is facing right now is internal. Malacañang and the Department of Justice (DOJ) should refrain from making any statements that impinge on the independence of a religious group. They should respect the institution’s religious freedom,” Binay said in a statement on Monday.

“Why the persistence when an NBI team had already concluded there was no crime committed? The DOJ secretary’s actions and the Palace’s support for her demonstrate the administration’s obsession to control independent institutions like the INC, in violation of their freedom to worship. And if the administration cannot control, they harass and intimidate,” he added.

Malacañang on Sunday supported the initiative of the Justice department in pursuing a probe on the alleged kidnapping cases in the INC.

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said that it is within the scope of the DOJ to file a case if it can gather enough pieces of evidence to implicate those involved in the supposed abduction cases within the ranks of the religious group.

The reported abduction was earlier ruled out by National Bureau of Investigation Anti-Organized Transnational Crime Division chief Atty. Manuel Eduarte. The INC leadership also denied the allegations.

Binay slammed Justice Secretary Leila de Lima for sowing “disunity” within the agency by contravening with the declaration of Eduarte.

“By your actuations, you are promoting the image of disunity, discord, and even corruption in the INC to its clear prejudice and detriment,” the vice president said.

Instead of meddling with the issues of the INC, Binay said that the administration should address pressing issues first such as poverty and the sorry state of the Metro Rail Transit 3.

“Instead of meddling in INC affairs, the administration should focus on more pressing matters such as poverty alleviation and addressing the MRT problem. It would do well for the Palace and justice officials to deal with what’s on their plate first,” he added.