Mauling of ABS-CBN cameraman tops ‘crimes’ during Iglesia protest

Members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo rally near EDSA Shrine. INQUIRER PHOTO/ REM ZAMORA

Aside from the mauling of the ABS-CBN cameraman, only two incidents were reported to the Mandaluyong police station during the four day vigil of Iglesia ni Cristo on Edsa to protest the government’s intervention against their religious freedom.

Records from the Mandaluyong Police Community Precinct Station 4 show two malicious mischief incidents were reported.

The first incident was last August 30 at 12:15 a.m. when someone shouted “Iglesia ni Cristo to death” while INC program is ongoing.

The one who shouted claimed it was just a joke. No complaint was filed and the one who shouted was forgiven.

The second incident was on August 31 at 2 a.m. involving two INC members regarding damaged license plate of the victim’s SUV.

Mandaluyong PCP Station 4 is along St. Francis corner Internal Road, Shangri-La Shopping Center covering 294.48 hectares.

Cameraman mauled

On the second day of the protest on Edsa, individuals who were allegedly members of the INC mauled ABSCBN cameraman Melchor Pinlac while covering the rally on Friday night.

Pinlac, in an interview over DZMM, said at least three men, whom he said had INC logos on the placards they were carrying, mobbed him when he introduced himself as a cameraman from ABSCBN.

“May kumalawit sa leeg ko. Sinuntok ako sa panga, sa tagiliran. Sinasabi nila ‘mga biased kayo!’ tapos pinagtutulak kami,” he said.

It was ABSCBN who first reported that expelled minister Isaias Samson Jr. filed serious illegal detention charges before Justice Secretary Leila de Lima against eight ministers of the INC.

Pinlac said the incident happened near under the overpass near Edsa Shrine in Ortigas where thousands of protesters converged for days.

The still unidentified men only stopped beating Pinlac when SCAN security from INC intervened.

The INC has set up a stage and LCD screen along Edsa Shaw since last Friday.

Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor, PNP Information Chief said around 20,000 INC members flocked the area between 1-2 am and around 12,000 occupied Crossing Ibabaw to Ortigas as of 8 a.m. Monday.

Petty crimes

Chief Supt. Joel Pagdilao, National Capital Region Police Office Director, said so far there are no major incidents reported.

He said they would review the police blotters to see if there were and how many petty crimes were reported.

INC stayed on Edsa for four days before they were told to pack up and go home after an understanding with the government.

In a press briefing at Camp Crame, Mayor said they will inform the Iglesia leadership of the alleged assaults made by the protesters to non-INC members.

“We will inform the leadership of INC of these incidents because they also promised that they will investigate their own ranks,” he said. Tetch Torres-Tupas, Julliane Love de Jesus

Originally posted: 12:51 PM August 31st, 2015