Iglesia Ni Cristo protesters occupy Edsa

Mamasapano’s SAF 44

Sen. Grace Poe said the DOJ should explain why it brought charges on the complaint of just one witness.

“I believe they should be transparent,” Poe said at a studenty assembly in Pangasinan province.

Speakers at the protest rally took turns lambasting the government for failing to file complaints against those responsible for the death of the 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos killed in a clash with Moro rebels in Mamasapano, Maguindanao province, in January.

Two of policemen—PO2 Nicky Nacino and PO2 Ephraim Mejia—were members of the INC.

The source said the INC kept silent in public about the matter because the government assured the group that a case would be filed.

He said the group had constantly prodded the government in private to file charges in the SAF 44 case.

‘Personal stake’

“We have a personal stake here. Two families lost their loved ones,” the source said. “We feel as one. If you hurt the ankle, you hurt the whole body.”

The source said the INC would continue to campaign for justice for the fallen SAF officers until the government gave it the same attention, time and effort as it was giving to Samson’s complaint.

During the protest yesterday, video presentations of recent construction projects involving 1,000 churches were shown, while a steady stream of food and drinks flowed.

No INC official appeared at the rally until 6 p.m., when Edwil Zabala, the group’s spokesperson, came to dispel rumors that the protesters were leaving the area.

“We will make such an announcement here and not on social media,” Zabala told the cheering protesters.

When program emcees asked if it was true that the INC was bullying De Lima, Zabala said, “That’s senseless talk.”

Zabala stressed that the INC had a permit for the mass action and that the group was exercising its constitutional right to assemble.

The source said that if the INC would carry the protest to Edsa, one of the reasons would be its demand for justice for the fallen SAF officers.

He also said no INC official went onstage to speak to the protesters because the group had received information that libel charges would be brought against INC officials who would speak against the government.

Crackdown

Samson also bared that 10 other ministers were seized in an apparent crackdown, which church leaders had denied. De Lima earlier ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to look into the alleged abductions.

Samson’s disclosures were part of a public unraveling of the tight-knit church, where members are known to follow church orders so strictly that they can deliver bloc votes, contributing to the sect’s acknowledged role as kingmakers in Philippine politics.

The INC’s public unraveling began with a July 22 YouTube video showing Cristina “Tenny” Manalo, widow of the late INC leader Eraño Manalo, and their son Angel Manalo appealing for help from the sect’s members, saying their lives were in danger. The two were later expelled from the church.

In the video, the Manalo matriarch made an emotional plea to speak to her son Eduardo, the current executive minister, indicating cracks within the influential church’s founding family.

Protesters stayed on Padre Faura all day on Friday, with the crowd reaching an estimated 3,700 by midafternoon and spilling into Maria Orosa Street, the sidewalks surrounding the University of the Philippines and a nearby mall.

Shortly after the crowd had dinner and was back to enjoying religious music, an INC minister went onstage and announced that the protest was leaving Padre Faura.

“We’re leaving,” the minister said, drawing cheers from the crowd.

“Where are we going?” the minister asked.

The crowd responded: “Edsa!”

Within minutes, the protesters packed their posters and placards and headed to Edsa, leaving piles of trash that INC members later cleaned up.

The protesters left Padre Faura at 7:40 p.m.  Jaymee T. Gamil, Jovic Yee and Tarra Quismundo, With reports from Julie M. Aurelio, Marlon Ramos, Erika Sauler, Tina G. Santos and Armand Galang, Inquirer Central Luzon

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