Overkill, traumatic, and a delaying tactic.
That was how an emotional Seiko Menorca, the wife of expelled Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) minister Lowell Menorca, described the police’s arrest of her husband on Wednesday that resulted in a heated altercation.
“‘There was clearly [overkill]. ‘Yung case po na sinampa nila [before a Mindanao court] was a libel case, pero para pong kriminal na hinuli nila ‘yung asawa ko,” Seiko told reporters in a press conference at Greenhills Elan Hotel Modern in San Juan.
“Sobra po ‘yung ginawang pag-arrest sa amin to the point na hindi ko na alam kung sino ang lalapitan ko,” she said.
(There was clearly overkill. The case they filed against my husband before a Mindanao court was a libel case, but they arrested my husband like a criminal.
The arrest they did was too much, to the point that I no longer knew who to approach.)
An altercation between Menorca’s camp and Manila police ensued yesterday after the cops arrested the expelled minister while on his way to a scheduled hearing at the Court of Appeals.
A video taken by Menorca’s camp showed that the arresting officers were wearing plainclothes, shorts, and slippers.
READ: Ex-Iglesia minister Lowell Menorca surrenders
Seiko said their past experiences had been very traumatic to their family, particularly to their 2-year-old daughter whom she said she saw staring blankly after witnessing Menorca’s arrest.
“Nakakatakot po na kapag nakakakita ako ng pulis na naka-uniporme o kahit naka-civilian, naiisip ko na baka kikidnapin na naman kami,” she said. “Magdamag po akong umiiyak, hindi po ako makatulog.”
“Sana naman po naiintindihan n’yo ‘yung pinagdadaanan namin… Wala po kaming kalaban-laban. Bilang asawa, ipinagtanggol ko lang ‘yung asawa ko… Sana naman po maawa naman po kayo. Paano naman po kami makakapamuhay nang maayos, eh wala na po. Wala na po kaming matakbuhan,” Seiko added.
(It is terrifying that whenever I see police in uniform or even in civilian clothing, I would immediately think that we could be kidnapped. I cried all night, I haven’t been able to sleep.)
READ: TIMELINE: Menorca vs INC officials
Menorca eventually surrendered to the police, but officers of the Pandacan police station filed charges of resisting arrest, direct assault and obstruction of justice against him following the commotion.
But Seiko maintained that it was the cops who did not observe proper conduct in the arrest, saying that they did not even show their badges to prove that they were policemen.
“Tinitignan namin kung anu-anong mga kaso ang pwedeng isampa sa kanila (police),” she said.
(We are looking into what cases we can file against the police.)
INC spokesperson Edwil Zabala denied that the sect had a hand in Menorca’s arrest, adding that he should just face the libel cases against him.
READ: Iglesia ni Cristo conducts own probe on Menorca arrest
Menorca’s wife, however, said the arrest was clearly a delaying tactic to prevent Menorca from testifying before the CA.
“Sana pinagbigyan man lang nilang makapag-testify ‘yung asawa ko,” Seiko said, adding that they could have surrendered peacefully to authorities if the arrest was done properly.
(They could have at least let my husband testify [before the CA].)
Nevertheless, Seiko said she still has love and respect for INC and will not turn her back to the sect.
“Mahal ko pa rin po ang Iglesia. Dito po ako namulat tulad nang marami. Buong buhay ko, dito na po. Hindi po ako liliban hangga’t kaya ko po. Kaya sana mga kapatid, ibalik na po natin ang ating pagkakaisa at pagmamahalan,” she said.
(I still love the Iglesia. This is where I found enlightenment just like many. My entire life is here. I won’t leave [the sect] as long as I am able to. This is why, brothers and sisters, let us restore unity and love.)
Provincial chapters of the Society of Communicators and Networks (SCAN) International, a group of INC’s medical and rescue units, filed libel suits against Menorca in various courts after tagging them as the private army or death squad of the influential religious sect.
The CA has rescheduled Menorca’s cross-examination for the writ of amparo filed by his brother Anthony and sister-in-law Jungko regarding his alleged abduction last year. CDG