Malacañang denies gov’t meddling in Iglesia ni Cristo affairs

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Malacañang on Friday clarified that it does not intend to meddle in the operations of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), whose members continue to hold vigil outside the Department of Justice in Manila.

READ: INC members show no signs of stopping protest vs De Lima

“Government’s duty is to ensure that the laws of the land are complied with and does not wish to interfere in the internal affairs of any legitimate organization,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a statement.

“Government is not taking an adversarial position against the INC whose contributions to national development and demonstration of civic consciousness are duly acknowledged,” he added.

Coloma said the government hopes that “expressions of dissent will continue to be peaceful, orderly and not in any way disruptive of normal activities of our citizenry.”

Around 3,000 members of Iglesia ni Cristo have been staying in the streets of Padre Faura since Thursday afternoon, protesting Justice Secretary Leila de Lima’s supposed prioritization of the illegal detention case filed by dismissed INC minister Isaias Samson.

READ: De Lima to INC: I’m just doing my job

INC said De Lima should focus on more pressing issues such as the investigation surrounding the botched Mamasapano operation.

The protesters attempted to block De Lima from leaving the DOJ compound on Thursday, which coincided with her birthday.

In 2010, the INC leadership endorsed then presidential candidate Aquino. Kristine Angeli Sabillo/IDL