Video by Ryan Leagogo/INQUIRER.net
Reacting to allegations that the influential Iglesia Ni Cristo was bullying Justice Secretary Leila de Lima by protesting in Padre Faura, Manila, INC minister and spokesman Edwin Zabala said the gathering was within their rights.
“Pabebe ‘yan,” Zabala told thousands of INC members gathered near the Department of Justice compound on Friday.
Zabala said they cannot be deprived of the right to assemble because they were able to secure necessary permits.
The Manila City Hall allowed Iglesia ni Cristo members to stage their protest until Sept. 4.
“Hawak-hawak ko po ‘yung permit natin para sa ngayon ay payapang magtipon sa lugar na ito. Hanggang Lunes pa at kung kinakailangang lumagpas ay pahihintulutan din tayo (I have with me the permit for this peaceful rally. We can stay here till Monday and longer if necessary and we will be allowed),” Zabala said.
“Garantisado naman ng batas, hindi naman pambubully ito (This is guaranteed under the law, this is not bullying),” he added.
Zabala said the INC protest cannot be called bullying as they were only expressing their beliefs and concerns.
“Porke ba’t ginagamit natin ang karapatan natin, humingi naman tayo ng permiso, pambubully na ba agad ito (We are only exercising our right and we asked for and granted a permit, they claim this is bullying)?” Zabala said.
“Porket nagtitipon para payapang ihatid ang hinaing, bully na agad (Just because we gathered here to air our grievances, we’e called a bully)?” he added, noting that INC protesters have been behaving properly since Thursday.
As to unverified reports that INC was planning to move the “silent protest” to Edsa Shrine in Ortigas, Zabala said official announcements will be made in Padre Faura and not on social media.
“Kung kinakailangan na tayong umalis dito, maririnig nyo pong i-announce dito sa stage (If we have to leave, we’ll announce it here),” he said.
Thousands of INC members flocked to the DOJ on Thursday, protesting De Lima’s supposed meddling with internal affairs of the church.
Calling for a separation of church and state, INC members said De Lima should focus on “more important issues” such as the botched Mamasapano operation instead of “prioritizing” the illegal detention case filed by dismissed INC minister Isaias Samson against the church leadership.
“’Wag nilang sikilin ‘yung kalayaan natin, ‘wag nilang pakialaman yung relihiyon natin (Don’t curtail our freedom, don’t meddle in our religion),” Zabala added. Yuji Vincent Gonzales