From ‘hustisya’ to ‘hostess siya’: Iglesia ni Cristo protesters ridicule De Lima

Justice Sec. Leila De Lima. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) protesters who flocked to Edsa-Shaw Boulevard on Friday night have nothing but harsh words for Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, whom they are accusing of meddling with church affairs.

INC members, who were repeatedly shouting “hustisya” (justice) in unison, suddenly changed their chants to “hostess siya, De Lima.”

Hostess is being colloquially referred to as prostitute in the Philippines.

Some protesters shouted “Isakay si De Lima” when an ambulance passed by the area.

INC members also chanted “Leila, Leila Labandera” to the tune of Battle Hymn of the Republic.

When a Higantes festival-themed effigy of the justice secretary arrived at the Edsa-Shaw intersection, protesters were heard shouting “pabebe, De Lima!”

Members of the influential Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) are accusing Justice Secretary Leila de Lima of using religion as a “stepping stone” toward her supposed political ambitions.

During the second day of INC’s protest near the Department of Justice (DoJ) compound on Padre Faura Street, Manila before trooping to Edsa, program hosts repeatedly said De Lima’s alleged priority for the illegal detention case filed by dismissed INC minister Isaias Samson against the church leadership was related to her plans for the 2016 elections.

“Mali ang kinalaban nila dahil hindi tayo papatalo (They picked up the wrong enemies because we’re not going to let them win),” one of the hosts said.

“Hindi tayo nandito para manggulo. Nandito tayo dahil ginulo nila tayo (We’re not here to create chaos. We’re here because we’re the ones they’re trying to destroy),” the host said.

While the justice secretary has yet to formally declare her plans for next year’s polls, she previously said she was already 80 percent sure of pursuing a senatorial bid. She also announced during her 56th birthday celebration on Thursday her journey from “point J” to “point S.”

Reacting to De Lima’s statement that she was just doing her job, one of the hosts said listening to hearsay was not part of a justice secretary’s job.

“DOJ dapat pansinin niyo ‘yung mga naulila sa Mamasapano. Nakakainip naman ang hustisya (DoJ you should mind the survivors of the Mamasapano [massacre]. We can’t wait anymore for justice to be done),” he said, referring to the botched police operation that caused the death of 44 commandos, two of which were INC members.

Calling for separation of church and state, INC members said De Lima should focus on “more important issues” instead of “prioritizing” the illegal detention case filed by Samson against the church leadership. Yuji Vincent Gonzales, TVJ

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