A standoff ensued on Wednesday in Manila as a former minister of Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) has been prevented from going to a scheduled hearing in the Court of Appeals (CA) as policemen tried to serve an arrest warrant for a libel case.
In an interview which aired on radio dzMM, Lowell Menorca said that he and his family left their safe house and were on their way to the CA when policemen clad in civilian clothes stopped his car and try to serve an arrest warrant for a libel case issued in Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte.
“Galing kami sa safe house pagkatapos papunta na kami sa Court of Appeals. May mga sasakyan kaming kasama dahil lilipat kami ng sasakyan. Kumanan kami ng isang kanto. Tapos bumaba kami para lumipat ng sasakyan. Pagbabang-pagbaba ko, hinablot na ako ng isang taong naka-civilian, niyakap na ako at nakikipagbuno sa akin. Sumisigaw siya, ‘Pulis ako! Pulis ako! May warrant of arrest ako.’ Sabi ko, ‘ipakita mo sa akin ‘yung warrant.’ Tapos dumating din yung kasama niyang naka-civilian na nakamotor lang at may baril lang. Ayaw nila ipakita sa akin yung warrant basta may warrant daw,” Menorca narrated.
(We left our safe house and we were on our way to Court of Appeals. We have accompanying vehicles because we will transfer to another vehicle. We turned right around the corner. Then we alighted to transfer to another vehicle. Just as I alighted, I was grabbed by a civilian person, he hugged me and kept grabbing me. He was shouting, ‘I am a police officer! I am a police officer! I have a warrant of arrest.’ I said, “Show me the warrant.’ Then his companion riding on a motorcycle came carrying a gun. They kept on telling that there was a warrant (of arrest) but they didn’t want to show to me.)
Menorca said that his wife Jinky grabbed the arrest warrant and read that his name was not on the said document.
The standoff happened at Quirino Avenue corner Roxas Boulevard with around 20 policemen deployed at the scene.
Meanwhile, Manila Police Station 10 Superintendent Edilberto Leonardo said that the libel case is bailable and assured that they will ensure Menorca’s security when they escort him to the police station.
Menorca said that he would wait for his lawyer Atty. Trixie Angeles and a representative from the CA before he would turn himself in to the police.
The former minister said that this is a move green-lighted by the powerful church to supposedly prevent him from testifying in his hearing where he seeks the granting of his petition for writs of amparo and habeas corpus.
“May hearing ako ngayon. Ito talaga ang proof na ayaw nila akong magsalita. Kasi pinipigilan nila ako. Sinabi nila sa akin na kapag hindi ako tumigil, ipapakulong nila ako. Ito na yun. Kaya hindi ako makakapagsalita nito,” he said.
(I have a hearing to attend today. This is the proof they they didn’t want me to speak up because they are hindering me. They told me that if I don’t stop, they will put me in jail. This is it. Because of this, I won’t be able to speak up.)
Meanwhile, Manila Police District (MPD) director Chief Supt. Rolando Nana said the policemen were merely observing the process in serving an arrest warrant.
In a radio interview, Nana told Menorca that the arrest warrant for his libel case that the police station received came from Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte.
Speaking to Nana on air, Menorca asked the police official to personally see him in the standoff—or at least a police officer who is not a member of INC.
However, Nana said he won’t be able to leave the MPD headquarters along United Nations Avenue as the Manila Police has an ongoing program celebrating its anniversary.
Nana said he will send Ermita Police Station commander Supt. Albert Barot and a certain “Supt. Belmonte” from the MPD Legal Office.
He assured that the police officers he will send to speak with Menorca are not INC members.
Menorca meanwhile asked the Manila Police to wait for his lawyer and a representative from the Court of Appeals before bringing him to the police station for booking procedures.
“Sana pagbigiyan niyo ako at hindi ako tatakbo,” Menorca said.
(I hope you will grant my request and I won’t run away.) RAM
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