Ex-Iglesia ni Cristo minister holding househelp, says girl’s mom

Former Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) minister Lowell Menorca is allegedly holding his househelp against her will so she could testify against the influential religious group.

The family of Abegail Yanson made this allegation when they appeared before the media on Friday and asked Menorca to return Yanson, who has been with the former INC minister’s family since July.

“Simula nung August 29 hindi pa namin nakita. Sabik na kami makita ang anak namin, wala kaming komunikasyon simula nung Linggo hindi namin ma-contact. Nag-aalala po kami. Di kami makatulog sa pag-aalala,” Yanson’s mother Rosalie told reporters.

(We haven’t seen her since August 29. We’re so eager to see her, but we don’t have communication with her since Sunday. We are worried. We can’t sleep thinking about her.)

Rosalie said the 24-year-old Abegail was asked by Menorca’s wife Dinky to help out with their children but she was not paid for it.

“Pakibalik ang anak namin, hindi mo yun kasambahay (Return our daughter, she’s not your househelp),” Rosalie said.

The family has last spoken with Rosalie on Sunday and have not heard from her since. They also don’t have any idea where she is.

“Nung Linggo may tawag pero mula noon wala na. Gusto na niyang umuwi pero hindi pinapayagan. Pilit niyang umalis pero pinipilit siyang tumestigo laban sa [INC] pero di niya alam ang gagawin,” Rosalie said.

(Last Sunday she made a call but after that, we lost contact. She wanted to leave but has not been allowed. She’s being forced to testify against INC but she doesn’t know what to do.)

Menorca had earlier accused members of the INC advisory council of having him kidnapped and detained so he could be killed for allegedly exposing the alleged corruption and other anomalies within the religious sect through a blog.