Iglesia ni Cristo members hold vigil in front of Manalo residence

Lights were cut off inside the residence of the influential Manalo family. MARC JAYSON CAYABYAB

MANILA, Philippines—Threats to the lives of the Manalo matriarch and his son brought together a handful of Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) members in front of the Manalo residence in Quezon City to make sure the members of the founding family are safe.

This amid reports that the brother and mother of INC Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo were held hostage inside the Manalo residence along Tandang Sora avenue in Quezon city.

Manalo’s mother, Cristina “Tenny” Villanueva Manalo, and brother Felix Nathaniel “Angel” Villanueva Manalo were expelled from the church supposedly for causing a split (“pagkakabahabahagi”) within the church.

The split in the family was made known to the public on Thursday ahead of the 101st founding anniversary of the influential church on July 27.
Ka Tenny and Ka Angel were expelled over a Youtube video they posted online claiming their lives were in danger. Also expelled were two other siblings, Marco Eraño Villanueva Manalo and Lolita Manalo Hemedez.

The Manalo residence was a dark fortress in the night, with lights out. Supporters claimed electricity and water were cut off.

A person holding a cellphone was seen peered out from a window.
Earlier in the afternoon, a group of five INC members were able to get in the gate after muttering a short prayer. They were ushered inside. A reporter caught a picture of a man armed with a high-powered rifle inside the Manalo complex.

Longtime INC member Sarah Manuel said she joined some 10 supporters outside the Manalo residence after watching Ka Angel’s YouTube video.

Sarah Manuel knocks on the Manalo residence gate to give out food and drinks. MARC JAYSON CAYABYAB

Later that night, Manuel knocked on the gate and offered food and bottles of water. Someone opened the gate to get the food. But the gates were shut afterwards, preventing Manuel from entering.

Manuel said she did not want to question the leadership of the INC.

“Hindi namin pinunta rito rally. (Gusto lang namin) makitang safe sila, walang anumang threat,” Manuel said.

She added that she remains a loyal follower of the Manalos, to whom she owed her and her family’s safety.

“Yung aral na tinanggap namin, utang na loob namin yun mula sa kinikilala naming sugo, si kapatid Eraño Manalo. Tama lang na suklian namin pagaalaga nila sa amin,” Manuel added.

Two supporters–a woman and her niece–also came.

The niece said she did not understand why the Manalos were expelled, since their doctrine states that family members should have compassion for each other.

“Hindi namin maintindihan bakit pagkakabaha-bahagi. Gusto namin maliwanagan,” the 31-year-old woman said, who has been an INC member since birth.

“Ang doktrina kasi magmahalan ang mga kapatid. Kung may problema, mag-usap usap… Nagulat kami na ganun ang resulta,” she added.

She said she had just come from worship when the expulsion of four of the Manalo family members were announced.

She said there was tension and sadness among her brothers and sisters after the announcement.

“Kapag sumasamba, masaya. Pero kanina, iba eh… Sa mga kapatid, mararamdaman talaga ang lungkot,” she said.

In the Youtu e video, Manalo’s brother Angel Manalo appealed for help claiming there is threat to his life.

Manalo’s mother known as Ka Tenny also asked for help for fear of their safety, saying she wished to talk with her son Executive Minister Eduardo.

Tenny, whose face was hidden and her voice played in the video, said some ministers were abducted and are still missing.

Tenny is the widow of INC’s late executive minister Eraño “Erdy” Manalo.

A sign was also posted on the window of the Manalo residence. It read: “Where are the missing ministers?”

An expelled minister Roel Rosal said some ten ministers were abducted for their knowledge on alleged corruption in church funds.