Rescued INC Minister Says Church is Planning Another EDSA Rally

Leaders of the influential-but-badly-fractured religious group is planning another rally in EDSA, after the Supreme Court issued writs of habeas corpus and amparo on October 23, compelling (Iglesia ni Cristo) INC leaders led by executive minister Eduardo Manalo to appear before the Court of Appeals on November 3.

In one-on-one interview by Rappler, kidnapped and rescued recently, former INC minister Lowell Menorca II said, he was told many times that the inclusion of the name of Eduardo Manalo in the lists of respondents would anger the religious sect members.

Menorca said in Filipino, “They told me several times, you have angered the Iglesia, you have angered the brethren that’s why for certain, they will go [to EDSA] again, they will rally again, and you will be unable to stop them. They were already insinuating that if they were able to paralyze Metro Manila when cases were filed against Sanggunian members, how much more if Ka Eduardo [Manalo] were involved? So expect, expect the worst of what they can do.”

Iglesia brethren will do everything, Menorca said, to shield Manalo and members of the Sanggunian from cases and stop them from speaking up and showing video surveillance that they did. Submission to the courts would be tantamount to interference by the state.

Netizens on the other hand, especially those who will be badly affected by traffic once the said rally is materialized express their agitation and anger towards “dumb” INC members.

The century-old church has been harvesting negative publicity ever since the scandal erupted last June.

Menorca’s family is expected to file formal charges with the aid of his lawyers led by Atty. Trixie Angeles in the very near future.

Menorca also appealed to members of the church and “fellow brethren” to think the situation carefully and not just follow what is told by the Sanggunian.

Source: Carla Gamboa / Rappler.com

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