‘Barred’ from testifying, Menorca asks: What is Iglesia afraid of?

A frustrated Lowell Menorca II faced reporters on Tuesday after not being able to testify or undergo cross examination as the Iglesia ni Cristo raised objections on his judicial affidavit.

In an interview after the third hearing of the Court of Appeals on the amparo and habeas corpus petitions filed by his camp, the former minister said the 117 objections the influential church raised on his 53-page affidavit were a means of barring him from testifying and therefore disregarding the truth.

“I stated my name and age. After that, a barrage of objections, a total of 117 objections. In a way, they really don’t want me to speak at all. The first part of their statement was to totally disregard my affidavit, totally disregard my testifying before the court. So I think it is very evident exactly why they didn’t want me to speak,” Menorca said.

Menorca, who claimed that he and his family were abducted after he was tagged as Antonio Ebangelista, the blogger who exposed the corrupt practices in the 101-year-old religious sect, said that if the INC leadership wanted the truth, they would have permitted him to speak and be cross examined.

“Nakaka-frustrate. Kasi we have been here over and over again … Kumbaga nandoon na ako eh. Bakit hindi niyo (ako) tanungin? So, I don’t know what they are afraid of. That’s why they did not continue with the cross examination. So nakaka-frustrate lang. I was just thinking to myself na if they have any objections, why not tell the court? Why not tell the justices? Why prolong these proceedings when in fact, the truth you can have it so easily. Because I was already there. I was the first-hand information that they wanted if they really wanted the truth,” he added.

The lawyers representing the respondents—INC executive minister Eduardo Manalo and Sanggunian members Radel Cortez, Bienvenido Santiago and Rolando Esguerra—said Menorca’s affidavit was “long-winding” and being used to make inadmissible evidence acceptable in court.

The Iglesia ni Cristo lawyers refused to place Menorca under cross examination until the court ruled on their objections, saying they would not allow their respondents’ right to challenge the affidavit to be disregarded.

Menorca, on his part, said he sought justice only on the alleged crimes committed by the homegrown church leaders against him and his family.

“The only reason why I am here is not because I am against the church or against Brother Eduardo V. Manalo but I am after those people who disobeyed the law, who did crimes to my family and put us at risk. And this same truth are the things that they prevent us from saying,” he said.

The next hearing of Menorca’s case is set on Jan. 20, 2016. RC

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