Expelled INC minister fears for life

Expelled INC minister Isaias Samson Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/TARRA QUISMUNDO

He might be next.

An expelled minister of Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) fears for his safety in the wake of the sudden arrest of former church worker Lowell Menorca II, saying both of them are the subjects of the church’s alleged witch-hunt to find those behind online posts baring purported corruption in the powerful religious sect.

Isaias Samson Jr., the first expelled minister to surface last year with allegations of wrongdoing in the two-million-strong INC, has gone deeper into hiding following Menorca’s arrest on Wednesday while on his way to the Court of Appeals (CA) just before he was supposed to testify on his plea for court protection against INC.

“I am being more careful now,” Samson told the Inquirer when reached by phone.

Libel case

“I am very much concerned about my security. In fact, to tell you the truth, after [Menorca’s arrest], some members called me with inside information that I’ll be the next one to be arrested,” he said.

Samson feared that, like in Menorca’s case, authorities might use an arrest warrant based on a case not known to him.

“I’ve been trying to think what could be the reason [for my arrest]. The only libel case against me was filed (by INC) in the Quezon City prosecutor’s office. As far as I know, it has not been resolved yet. Unless they do the same thing to me as what they did to Menorca,” he said.

Samson said friends had advised him to “be very careful.”

“Knowing their (church leaders) kind of people, nothing is impossible,” the former minister said, alleging that the harassment has not ceased for him and his family.

“The truth is, we are in hiding. Hopefully, they won’t succeed if ever they plan to do anything to me. I hope they just follow what is written in the Bible: Submit to the law,”  he said.

Plea for amparo

Samson said it was clear that Menorca’s arrest was aimed at stopping him from appearing at the CA, where he was expected to detail the alleged detention of his family at the church’s main compound in Diliman, Quezon City.

The pending proceedings at the appellate court seeks to determine whether Menorca, his wife Jinky and daughter Yurie Keiko should be granted their plea for amparo (protection).

“To tell you the truth, I was not surprised with what they did. I was just surprised that they did it outside. They said they already knew where Menorca was staying. Why didn’t they serve the warrant there?” Samson said.

“Why was it timed with his scheduled hearing at the CA?  So, apparently, their real intention was to stop him from testifying,” he said.

Samson said INC leaders might use as leverage the church’s political use as influence to sway those in power, especially this election season. INC commands a sought-after bloc vote for politicians and its endorsement could make or break an election bid of candidates.

“They want to prove and show that they are above the law [and influence] the people who are supposed to uphold it because of their clout. Especially now that it’s election time, they will use that,” said the former minister.

“Politicians now will allow themselves to be used because they want the Iglesia vote,” he said.

Samson, his wife and son have been in hiding since July last year after escaping from a weeklong detention at the INC Central Office compound in Quezon City. He claimed he was detained because the INC leadership had suspected him of being behind a blog against the church.

Officers tagged

The former editor in chief of the church’s official publication, Pasugo (God’s Message), faced the media after his family’s escape and tagged military and police officers in the abduction of at least 10 other ministers and church workers, including Menorca.

Menorca was seized in Sorsogon province the same month, allegedly on orders of INC leaders, and was then held along with his family at the INC compound for three months.

Samson filed charges of serious illegal detention, harassment, threats and coercion against members of the powerful INC governing council after his family’s escape.

But the Department of Justice dismissed the charges last November, citing lack of evidence to establish probable cause. The accused INC leaders neither answered any of the accusations nor appeared during the preliminary investigation of the case.

“But I just decided not to appeal it. My being a minister is still in me and I felt that if man cannot punish them, then it will be God who will punish them,” Samson said.