Menorca to file case vs ‘those who did wrong’ to his family

Expelled Iglesia ni Cristo member Lowell Menorca II on Friday said he was set to file criminal charges against “all those people who did wrong to (his) family” during their alleged abduction and detention as soon as the Court of Appeals decided on his camp’s request for a writ of protection from the INC.

Menorca did not reveal against whom he would file the charges, but said INC executive minister Eduardo Manalo and security guards Lian Velaso and Samuel Pinca would be exempted from the same.

According to Menorca, he has “a lot of respect” for Manalo, while Velaso and Pinca “made (their) lives” during their alleged ordeal “easier.”

“I understand them. They were just following orders,” he said.

“But the rest, especially those who had something to do with those (alleged acts), I will pursue legal charges,” he said.

Menorca urged members of the INC’s executive council to step down and “pave the way for an investigation” into his alleged abduction and detention.

“They should face the law,” he said.

He also called on the INC executive minister to aid his mother and siblings, who have also been expelled from the organization.

“All of these things will definitely be over if Ka (Eduardo) Manalo will be the first to extend a hand to his mother and siblings. How can you oversee the church if your family (has unresolved problems)?” he said.

Events leading to arrest

Menorca recounted right after he was released on bail on Friday what he said were the events leading to his arrest on Wednesday for the two libel charges filed against him by members of INC’s rescue and medical unit, SCAN International.

Speaking to reporters at a press conference in Ortigas, Mandaluyong City, Menorca said that from their safehouse, they were planning a “three-vehicle approach” to the Court of Appeals.

He said he, his wife Jinky and their daughter were in the Innova, and decided not to go straight to CA “to see if there was anyone following them.”

“I said let’s make one turn. So we got out of Pedro Gil, we got out of Taft Avenue, then on the second street, we turned right, ” he said.

He said he got off the vehicle but as soon as he got off, “someone barged at me.”

“I was hugged immediately (Niyakap na ako agad). ‘You are arrested, you are arrested. This is the police,'” he said, noting that that was where their “struggle” began.

He said he asked the man for his badge and the warrant, and then “of course, my wife panicked already.”

“He was reading a piece of paper that he wasn’t showing us,” he said.

He said after that, he was able to “free himself,” causing his suit to get ripped.

“My suit got ripped that’s why I escaped. It wasn’t because I punched him (as he claims),” Menorca said.

He said he left “to protect (his) daughter” while his wife Jinky stayed behind.

He said a motorcycle chased them and by the time he reached Quirino and Roxas Avenues, he saw policemen.

“They surrounded us. I said I have to talk to my lawyer first. And my lawyer said (Jinky) should go ahead to the CA,” he said.

He said he they got to talk to Chief Supt. Rolando Nana, Manila Police District director, and requested that he (Nana) be the one to pick him (Menorca) up.

Taken out of context

Menorca also pointed out that his pronouncement in the media about INC’s SCAN International being a death squad had been taken out of context.

As such, he said if this was the “bases for libel cases against me,” he said “(he) clarified already.”

“I appeal to (the complainants’) sense of humanity,” he said.

According to Menorca, SCAN International is an organization composed of INC members who “help in security and community work.”

“Let’s say there is traffic during worship service, they ensure peace and security,” he said.

He said his comments were borne out of what he said was the fact that some members of SCAN were involved in “illegal activities.”

“If you do your research, you will see that there are some (who resort to these). But it doesn’t mean that the entire SCAN International is involved in illegal activities,” he said.

3 Manila cops

Menorca also said he was not keen on pursuing criminal charges against the three Manila policemen who reportedly committed irregularities in arresting him.

“If we come to an understanding, I don’t think there’s any reason anymore. They were just trying to do their job. But we have to talk. I should feel ‘Sir, sorry, sir,’ (Maramdaman ko man lang na sir, sorry, sir),” he said in the press conference.

He said that while he was facing charges for resisting arrest from the policemen themselves, he was “very confident that once the judge sees the evidence, either those are dropped or they (the policemen) will be the ones charged.”

“That’s why I would like to appeal to them, those three officers that as early as now, drop those charges now and probably I’ll be lenient enough to not pursue any charges anymore,” he said.

Menorca said if the policemen, however, would “stand their ground and say they were just doing their job and that they were right,” then “that would be the foundation of the charges that (he) will bring against them.”

Asked what charges he was planning to file the three policemen should there be no agreement between them, Menorca said he would “let (his) lawyers advise (him) about it.” RC