Tuesday, November 25, 2014

How much do you know about the Catholic Church?

Iglesia Ni Cristo® of Manalo, what have you contribution for the entire Christian Church? You only created confusion, lies, deceit and hate to the Catholic Church which you admitted as the true Church of Christ!-CD2000
How much do you know about the Catholic Church? Here are 10 fun facts you might not know. See how many you know and post your result in the comments! (Source: Catholic Hausa Choir forum)

Photo Source: ICM Creative Communication

1. Vatican City has the highest crime rate in the world! With a population around 500 people and a little over one crime per day, the Vatican crime rate is above 100 percent, per capita. Although the fact is shocking it should be remembered that the Vatican is about one square mile in size, and has nearly 20 million visitors annually. Most of the crimes are pickpockets, purse snatching and other petty offenses done by outsiders.

2. The ONLY Christian church in existence for the first 1,000 years of Christian history was the Roman Catholic Church. All other Christian churches which exist today can trace their linage back to the Roman Catholic Church. Most non-Catholic churches which exist today are less than a century or two old by comparison.

3. The Catholic Church consists of more than just the Roman Catholic Church. There are 22 Eastern Rites that are in full communion with Rome and although they go by different names, they are every bit as much a part of the Catholic Church.

4. Johannes Gutenberg, the inventor of the printing press, was Catholic and the first book ever printed was the Catholic Bible.

5. The Catholic Church is entirely responsible for the composition of the Bible, which books are included, as well as the breakup of the chapters and verses. Protestants have removed some books of the Bible because some of the verses were inconsistent with their theology. Martin Luther was a prime offender in this regard, removing Tobit, Judith, 1 and 2 Maccabees, Wisdom, Sirach and Baruch. He also made an effort to remove James and Revelations, but this was rejected by his followers and those two books were kept. Catholics are often accused of "adding" the books, but despite this common belief, it is false. Older, pre-Protestant, Catholic translations of the Bible include them.

6. How many saints are recognized by the Catholic Church? There does not seem to be an official number, but it exceeds 10,000. Of course, any person who enters heaven is a saint, by definition, so it is certain the number of actual saints in existence is much greater than the number recognized by the Church.

7. Any Catholic may perform an emergency baptism, such as if a person is in grave danger of death. In such a case, the validity of the baptism only depends upon the wishes of the person being baptized, that they desire the baptism. There are specific guidelines for such practices that Catholics should follow. Anyone wishing to be prepared for such a case should refer to the catechism for a deeper understanding of this allowance. Generally, such practices ought to be left to trained clergy.

8. About 15 percent of all hospitals in the United States are Catholic hospitals. In some parts of the world, the Catholic Church provides the only healthcare, education and social services available to people.

9. The Catholic Church spends more money than Apple brings in. Expenditures by the Catholic Church, largely on charity, exceeded $170 billion in 2012, according to The Economist magazine. In that same year, Apple took in $157 billion in revenue..

10. The Pope is protected by the Swiss Papal Guard. Wearing uniforms designed by Michelangelo and commonly armed with halberds, they are capable of using heavier weapons if needed. Each member is Catholic, male, and Swiss, and must complete military training in Switzerland. They must demonstrate good conduct and be at least five-foot-eight in height. Those who are chosen are granted a private audience with the pope along with their families. In extreme circumstances, they are expected to guard the Holy Father with their lives. The Swiss Papal Guard is the oldest active military unit in continual existence since 1506.

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Bukas na Liham para sa Lahat ng mga Katoliko - Mga Kaanib ng Tunay na Iglesia ni Cristo!

Dear all Catholics,

Do you have a relative, classmate or a friend who is a member of the cult called “Iglesia ni Cristo”? There are a lot of things you need to know about this cult because someday, if you join this cult it will turn you to someone you are not. It will make you an unreasonable false accuser. Members of Iglesia ni Cristo are required to invite non-members to visit the nearest INC chapel. They usually don’t discuss doctrines with you but rather, they will let you go to their nearest local for you to hear their teachings. They want you to go to their chapel not only because of their teachings but also for you to see the beauty of their chapels, discipline and brotherhood but do not be deceive, the devil do not appear to you in red tall horn with fire but they will appear to you as everything you want. There are some things that you should know before you accept any invitation for their Bible Lesson and that is to study you Catholic Faith. One of the weaknesses of those Catholics or even devout Catholics who left the Catholic Church and joined INC is the lack of explanation behind the mysteries of the Catholic Faith. As a result, they will believe whatever the INC ministers about Catholicism and they are speechless and unable reason out because of their lack of knowledge about Catholic Faith. Some will unreasonably attack INC with lack of knowledge about the Catholic Faith, as a result a persecutor of INC becomes an INC member. You do not want to happen to yourself.

This is what will happen if you will accept an invitation from Iglesia ni Cristo.

“The Name Game”

You will sit and listen to the INC ministers reading the Bible from one verse to another and talks about salvation and the life of man and it’s ending is for you to know that the name of the Church that can save you written in the Bible is “church of Christ”(Acts 20:28 Lamsa only) and it is also the name of their church “Iglesia ni Cristo”, therefore you must join INC in order to be saved. Do not be deceived, what is written in the Bible is the church is necessary for salvation and whoever will enter it and obey the commandments of God will be saved. If you follow the line of thinking of INC ministers, you would drink the contents of a bottle labeled as “drinking water” without thinking if it’s water or not. There is only one church built by Christ and Christ promised that it will last forever. He said “I am always with you until the end of time” c.f (Matt 28:20). Only the Catholic Church is the church that exists from the 1st century until today. Therefore, the church which Christ built is the Catholic Church. It is also Traditional, St. Ignatius a student of St. John the Apostle named the church “Catholic Church”. The church built by Christ was mentioned by many names, the name “church of Christ” is only a descriptive name of the church built by Christ. If you read the Catechism of the Catholic Church, you’ll see that it was also used to refer the Catholic Church

Catechism of the Catholic Church 811 "This is the sole Church of Christ, which in the Creed we profess to be one, holy, catholic and apostolic…"

Iglesia ni Kristo in the Philippines is only built in 1914 by Felix Manalo. It is so unreasonable to join a church because you can find its name in the Bible especially it can be read in Lamsa Version. Do not join INC just because you think that you do not belong to the “Church of Christ”, you are already in the Church of Christ, the original one the Catholic Church which was protected by God for almost 2000 years.

“The Apostasy”

The name game is not enough to convince you so probably you will raise the questions,

“What happen to the church which Christ built”?
“Why the Catholic Church is not the true church’?

The INC ministers will quote some Bible verses that speak about apostasy where members of the church will abandon the true faith and some were killed to prove that the church which Christ built was gone after the end of the 1st century. However, it only speaks about the individual members of the church not the church itself, that’s what apostasy means. Whenever a person abandons his faith, he is an apostate and committed apostasy. They are trying to prove that apostasy is fulfilled by the Catholic Church because the Catholic Church invented many doctrines by the council. One thing that they failed to understand about the church build by Christ is it was likened as a mustard seed (Matt 13:31-32). The kingdom of God which is the church will grow and will undergo development. Its development can be seen in the book of Acts where they gather together and had a council to settle a doctrine ( see Acts 15), that’s why the development of the Church doctrine is also through a council. And it cannot teach wrong doctrines

Apostasy is the opposite of the promises of Christ:

Christ promised the he will be with his church until the end of time - Matthew 28:20
Christ promise that the gates of hell shall not prevail against it – Matt 16:18
Christ promise that he will send his Counselor to be with his church forever - John 14:16-18
Christ promised that the church will be guided into all truth - John 16:13

And according to Paul, the glory of the church will last to all generations forever and ever. - Ephesians 3:20-21

Apostasy is the weakness of all their teachings. If you can refute it, the rest of their teachings cannot stand especially about the doctrine about of Last Messenger.

“The Error of Bible Alone”

Iglesia ni Kristo believes that the Bible alone is the sole basis of faith. If it’s not written in the Bible, they will reject it. By nature we Catholics believe that the Bible is the word of God. There are some Catholics falsely believe that the teachings of God are all written in the Bible alone and this becomes an advantage for the INC ministers. Ministers will show Catholic teachings that are not found in the Bible such the term “Trinity” “Purgatory” and even the word “Catholic”. This is one thing that every Catholics should understand the Catholic Church do not use the Bible alone as the basis of faith, but also in Traditions (2 Thess. 2:15) and “Magisterium” which is also known as “teaching authorities” (Mat 16:18;Matt 18:18). The doctrinal terms may not found in the Bible but its definition is found there, therefore it is Biblical, Catholic means “universal, all nations” it is the idea of Christ about the Church. “make disciples of all nations” (Matt 28:19) ” The belief of Bible alone is not biblical and ironically, the term “Bible Alone” is nowhere found in the Bible. If they are consistent with their belief that they reject everything that is not written in the Bible, they should reject the doctrine about “Last Messenger”, such term is not found in the Bible.

“A personal interpretation”

INC ministers will appear in Americana suit while holding the Bible. This is a powerful way for you to believe that what they preach to you is the WORD OF GOD. But keep in mind that the Word of God was already preached by the Catholic Church long before the Bible was finished. When the author of the book of Revelations was still writing in 100AD, the Catholic Church is already on its 5th pope, St Evaristus. The Bible was collected, recognized, canonized and preached by the Catholic Church long before Felix Manalo was born. So whenever you hear an INC preach, what he preached is nothing but a personal and absurd interpretation of Felix Manalo of the Bible yet it is very convincing if you don’t read the Bible or you did not study about the Catholic Faith and its history. Like, protestant preachers, they believed that they only preach what is written in the Bible and they don’t use their own words but that is not true. Every preacher must have always an interpretation whether it’s from him or from the others.

‘’The Image Worship”

INC ministers accuse the Catholics for worshiping idols, and they want you to accuse the Catholics too and they do it through using Catholic Book. Two things are needed to know here:

a. Religious images of the Catholic Church are not idols. Idols means false gods and the INC ministers are aware that Catholic Church teaches only one God, the Holy Trinity and calling the images of the Catholic Church as idols is already an intellectual dishonesty, which means INC ministers are aware that they are lying.

b. Kneeling does not always mean worshiping; kneeling is also a sign to show honor, respect and sincerity. In fact, during ordination, ministers are kneeling in front of Manalo yet they deny they are not worshipping Manalo. With that, we can conclude that INC ministers are contradicting themselves from what they say with what they do.

There are a lot of Catholic book to know the teachings about the Catholics Church and it is unwise to study the truth about Catholicism from an anti-Catholic.

These are only few things to learn for before you visit an INC chapel. You may appreciate their financial management, you may appreciate their unity brother hood and discipline which they are so proud of but do not accept their Bible interpretation. “We should respect other people as persons made in the image of God, but this does not mean that we allow their false teachings to propagate. Charity demands that we correct errors and proclaim the truth. The salvation of souls is at stake. If a sheep falls in a ditch, we must lift it out. If a man falls into error, we must help him recognize his folly.. For a man is more valuable than a sheep”. –Dr. Quirino M. Sugon

If you are searching for more info about the Catholic Faith, just kindly visit the following site:


Equip yourself with enough knowledge about Catholicism before you visit INC so that you might know that the church needs you. You need to learn about your Catholic Faith not only for yourself or to challenge debates, but for your Catholic Brothers and sisters so that they too may understand behind the mystery of the Catholic Faith. If you find it hard to understand the Catholic Teachings, keep on going and have faith because even the apostles too were having difficult times understanding Christ yet they still follow him.The term "cult" may a little bit hard for them but for 100 years INC referred as idolaters and pagans. God bless.

Your Brother in Christ,
Gab

by Riel Lopez (Catholic Lay Apologist)

Sunday, November 16, 2014

"...kalokohan mo ang katoliko ay hindi sumusunod sa aral sa biblia." - Kaanib ng INC™

Another brainless comment from a member of the INC™ of Felix Manalo, taken from "Katie Holmes: Nagbalik-loob sa Iglesia ni Cristo"


Sakura (kung sino ka man),

Isang MALAKING KALOKOHAN ang naniniwala sa SABI-SABI. Ayon sa kasabihan, WALANG SARILING BAIT.

Ito bang sinabing mong "hindi sumusunod sa aral ng biblia Zzzzzzzzzz......" ay galing sa sarili mong pagkaunawa? O isang BAYARANG MINISTRO ang nagsabi nito sa iyo?

Huwag mong kalilimutan na itong BAYARANG MINISTRONG ito ang NAGSASABI sa inyong mga kaanib ng INC™ ni Manalo na "HUWAG MAGBASA NG BIBLIA" dahil SILA LAMANG (daw) ang "binigyan" ng Dios ng pang-unawa.

Kaya't kung isang BAYARANG MINISTRO lamang ang nagsabi nito, baka naman pwede, maging patas ka naman, buklatin mo ang Biblia mong galing sa mga Katoliko at Protestante (na sabi ng SUGO niyo ay mga kampon ni Satanas) at baka sakaling MABUKSAN pa ang iyong isipan.

"IDOL WORSHIP"

Hindi porke't libre ang katang*han ay inaraw-araw mo na!

Kailan ba naging IDOL si Maria, si Jose, si Juan, si Bartolome, si Mateo, si Santiago, si Lukas, si Agustin, si Domingo, si Francisco, si Lorenzo Ruiz, si Pedro Calungsod?

Kailan ba naging "dios" sina Maria, Jose, Juan, Bartolome, Mateo, Santiago, Lukas, Agustin, Domingo, Francisco, Lorenzo Ruiz, Pedro Calungsod?

At HINDI pala sila idol at di rin naman sila dios, BAKIT SILA DAPAT SAMBAHIN?

Ah... yung pagluhod nila at paghalik sa mga IMAHE? Yung pag-aalay nila ng bulaklak at pagtitirik ng kandila?

Yun ba ang ibig mong sabihin sa 'IDOL WORSHIP"?

Ibig mo bang sibihin ay HINDI sila dapat luhuran, alayan ng bulaklak, sindihan ng kandila, dasalan etc sapagkat SILA'Y MGA BATO LAMANG?

Di ba 'yon ang ibig sabihin ng "IDOL WORSHIP"? Yung lumuluhod, nag-aalay, nagtitirik, nagdarasal at nag-aalay ng bulaklak sa ISANG BATO o ISANG MUOG di ba?


Nakikita mo ba ang larawan sa itaas?

Ito ang KA'ABA ng Mekka sa Saudi Arabia. Ito ang tawag nilang "BLACK STONE"!


Sa DAKONG ITO ng DAIGDIG, ang LAHAT ng mga MUSLIM ay nakatuon, nagpapatirapa, nag-aalay, nagdarasal-- sa ISANG ITIM NA BATO?

Pagano ba sila?

MATAPANG ba ang inyong mga BAYARANG MINISTRO na SABIHIN sa buong mundo na ang mga MUSLIM ay mga PAGANO? Matapang ba si EDUARDO V. MANALO (EVM) na ipangaral sa 2 billion Muslim sa buong mundo na ANG MGA SUMASAMBA SA BATO ay mga PAGANO?

Ewan ko lang kung kaya ng TAPANG niyo na sila'y BATIKUSIN niyong mga PAGANO? Baka bukas-makalawa ay may gugulong na ulo sa loob ng INC™ ni Manalo!

Takot kayong mamatay ano? Sigurado kong diyan pupulutin ang inyng mga ulo kung IPANGARAL niyo sa TV o magasin na ang mga MUSLIM ay mga PAGANO at nagdarasal at sumasamba sa isang "BLACK STONE."

Ito rin ang ginagawa ng mga HINDU sa India!

Pinapaliguan!


Binibihisan!

At inaalayan!

MGA BATO pero NILULUHURAN, INAALAYAN, DINADASALAN, SINASAMBA!

Mga PAGANO ba sila sa INYONG PAMANTAYAN?

MUOG, IMAHE, BATO LANG BA SILA?


Ang larawan sa itaas ay ang MUOG o BANTAYOG ni GAT JOSE RIZAL sa Luneta Park sa Maynila.

Ayon sa Wikipedia, ang muog ni Gat. Jose Rizal ay yari sa BRONZE at GRANITE, mga chemical na walang kinalaman kay Jose Rizal.

Nakikita niyo sa itaas, bagamat yari sa mga material na BRONZE at GRANITE po 'yan pero MAINGAT na BINABANTAYAN at INIINGATAN ito ng mga Philippine Marine Corps at Marine Security and Escort Group.

Sinasaluduhan (PAGPUPUNYAGI) ang BATO ni Presidente Noynoy Aquino.


Binibisita ay INAALAYAN ng BULAKLAK ang muog ng iba't ibang pinuno ng mga bansa!




Ngayon Iglesia Ni Cristo®, ano ba ang binibigyan nila ng PUGAY? Bato o ang imahe?

Di lang iisa, MAY REPLIKA pa ang muog ni Rizal sa Madrid, Spain!



Pagano rin ba sila?

Ang BATO este MUOG o BANTAYOG ni FELIX MANALO sa INC Central


Ang URI ba ng PAGGAWA sa MUOG ang INAALAYAN ng mga INC™ ni Manalo?

O ang IMAHE (representation ng muog) ang INAALAYAN?

Kung NAG-AALAY sila ng BULAKLAK sa isang BATO, hindi ba't PAGANO rin sila ayon sa PAMANTAYAN at SUKATAN ng mga INC™ ni Manalo?

Kung hindi naman, BAKIT napaka-KITID nilang INTINDIHIN kung ano na lamang ang PAGSINTA natin sa mga BAYANI ng KAKRISTIANUHAN?!!

Ang PAGSINTA ay PWEDE kay RIZAL, PWEDE kay FELIX MANALO, bakit naman HINDI PWEDE kay SANTA MARIA ina ni CRISTO HESUS (at iba pang mga banal)?


Mga IPOKRITO ang tawag namin doon!


CATHOLIC DOCTRINE CONTRADICTS THE BIBLE?

How sure are you when your INC™ Church of Manalo just celebrated their 100th Year Anniversary, built an ARENA (for their god INC) and NAMED a place to CIUDAD DE VICTORIA (City of Victors o LUNGSOD ng MANALO?!)

When the Bible was written and compiled by the Catholic Church in c.380 A.D. your INC™ Church of Manalo wasn't even there.  The Apostles never called themselves "Iglesia Ni Cristo Ako" phrase?!

None of the Apostles or early Christians EVER identified themselves as "INC Ako"!

DO NOT FORGET Mr./Ms. INC™ member, that BEFORE the BIBLE came to be, THE CATHOLIC CHURCH came FIRST!

And because of the CATHOLIC CHURCH that the WHOLE OF CHRISTIANITY have BIBLE!

So how could the OWNER of the BIBLE contradicts ITSELF? That's ABSURD!

I'd rather believe the MORE OBVIOUS... FELIX MANALO CONTRADICTED THE BIBLE!

When FELIX MANALO denied JESUS-- his being GOD who BECAME FLESH (Man - kasi di naman pwedeng "magkatawang-tao" ang isang TAO NA!), HE (Felix) IS the FULFILLMENT of the COMING DECEIVER and ANTI-CHRIST"



Monday, October 20, 2014

PROOF NA ANG IGLESIA NI CRISTO® FOUNDED BY F. MANALO MASSACRE AY RECORDED SA SUPREME COURT AT HINDI GAWA-GAWA LAMANG

FIRST DIVISION


PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff-appellee, vs. JUANITO ABELLA, DIOSDADO GRANADA, BENJAMIN DE GUZMAN, and EDGARDO VALENCIA,accused-appellants.

D E C I S I O N
DAVIDE, JR., C.J.:
It all started with an altercation during a basketball game. Three days later, or on 10 March 1992, the bodies of MARLON[1] Ronquillo; JOSEPH Ronquillo; ERWIN Lojero; ANDRES Lojero, Jr.; and FELIX Tamayo were fished out of the murky waters of the Pasig River, filthy, bloated, putrid, and decomposing. Postmortem examinations on the cadavers showed signs of foul play.
MARLON’s hands were tied at the back with a black electric cord. He had lacerated wounds, contusions, ligature marks and hematoma. He died from a gunshot wound on the head.[2]
ANDRES’ hands were bound at the back with a plastic flat rope with four loops. His genitals were cut off; and he had ligature marks, contusions, and hematoma. The cause of his death was “asphyxia by strangulation; hemorrhage, intracranial, traumatic.”[3]


JOSEPH’s hands were “hog-tied at the back using a basketball T-shirt.” He also had ligature marks, contusions, lacerated wounds and fracture. He died of “asphyxia by strangulation; hemorrhage, intracranial, traumatic with skull fracture.”[4]
ERWIN’s body showed abrasions and burns. There were cord impressions on his wrists and depressed fracture on his head and at the base of his skull. He died of “asphyxia by drowning with blunt head injury.”[5]
FELIX had abrasions on the left cheek and tie impressions on the wrists. The cause of his death was “asphyxia by drowning.”[6]
On 18 March 1992, five informations for murder were filed before the Regional Trial Court of Manila (hereafter the trial court) against Juanito ABELLA, Diosdado GRANADA, Benjamin DE GUZMAN, Edgardo VALENCIA, Renato Dante, and Virgilio de Guzman. The cases were raffled to Branch 52 presided over by the late Judge David Nitafan. Docketed as Criminal Cases Nos. 92-104529 to -33, the informations[7] identically read as follows:
That on or about March 8, 1992, in the City of Manila, Philippines, the said accused, conspiring and confederating together with others whose true names, real identities and present whereabouts are still unknown and helping one another, did then and there wilfully, unlawfully and feloniously, with intent to kill and with treachery and evident premeditation, attack, assault and use personal violence upon one Marlon Ronquillo y Alepda [(Criminal Case No. 92-104529), one Felix Tamayo y Pascual (Criminal Case No. 92-104530), one Andres Lojero, Jr. y Pascual (Criminal Case No. 92-104531), one Joseph Ronquillo y Alepda [(Criminal Case No. 92-104532), one Erwin Lojero y Pascual (Criminal Case No. 92-104533)] by then and there hitting his head with guns, kicking him, tying his hands, [neck and private organ (additional allegation in Criminal Case No. 92-104531)] and thereafter throwing his body into the river thereby inflicting upon the latter mortal wounds which were the direct and immediate cause of his death thereafter.
Contrary to law. [Enclosures supplied].
On 25 March 1992, the informations were amended to include three other accused, namely, Joselito Crespo, Bienvenido Dugay and Danilo Abarete.[8] Upon arraignment all the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges against them. On 26 August 1992, Joselito Crespo, Renato Dante, Bienvenido Dugay, Danilo Abarete and Virgilio de Guzman were dropped from the information.[9]
The prosecution’s version of the events is as follows: In the morning of 7 March 1992, MARLON, JOSEPH, and an unidentified companion played three rounds of basketball against the team of JOEY de los Santos at the vicinity of Dalisay and Lakas Streets, Bacood, Sta. Mesa, Manila. The Ronquillos won the first two rounds; but the third round ended in a brawl, which the neighbors quickly pacified. JOEY later went back to Dalisay Street carrying two pillboxes. A certain Donald Ancheta saw him, took the pillboxes and turned them over to a policeman.[10]
On 8 March 1992, between 5:00 and 6:00 p.m., JOEY and his brother GENER threw stones at the Ronquillos’ house, attracting the attention of neighbors, who forthwith ran after the brothers. JOEY and GENER were overtaken and mauled before they were released.[11]
Between 8:00 and 9:00 p.m. of the same day, WILFREDO Lojero, a certain Daniel, and the victims were in front of the Ronquillos’ house in Lakas Street, trading stories while awaiting a certain Aling Flor.[12] JOSEPHINE del Rosario was then at the corner of Lakas Street on her way to a friend’s house when the victims called her and asked her about her mother, who was a barangay kagawad at Bacood. They told her that they were waiting for Aling Flor to report to her that JOEY and GENER threw stones at the Ronquillos’ house.[13] Later, EVELYN de la Cruz joined the group in the conversation.[14] The area was then illuminated by a streetlight at the corner of Damayan and Dalisay Streets about ten arms-length away.
Suddenly, a dirty white Ford Fiera without a plate number stopped in front of the group. There were about ten to thirteen people on board. Among them were JOEY and GENER, who looked out of the van and pointed at the victims. All the passengers except for JOEY and GENER alighted. Their faces were covered with black handkerchiefs, and they were armed. Someone shouted, “Pulis ito!” Another exclaimed, “Walang tatakbo!” FELIX ran but stopped when shots were fired; he was hit with a gun then dragged into the van. WILFREDO Lojero, however, managed to sneak into the Ronquillos’ house and was able to see everything. The other victims were boxed, kicked, and also hit with a gun and dragged into the van. Before the van sped away, one of the abductors warned JOSEPHINE, “Ikaw huwag kang maingay, wala kang nakita, wala kang narinig.”[15]
Meanwhile, at about 6:00 p.m. inside the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), Sta. Ana compound in Bacood, ELENA Bernardo was waiting for Pastor Cesar Almedina to seek his advice regarding her son-in-law’s problem. Pastor Almedina asked her to wait, and she did so. She waited until 10:00 p.m. Suddenly the guard switched off the lights inside the compound. With only the MERALCO light illuminating the compound from outside, she saw a dirty white Ford Fiera loaded with passengers enter and park in front of the pastoral house near the path leading to the basement. JOEY, GENER, all the accused and the victims were inside the van. Four of the victims were made to alight from the van, while the fifth one lay on the floor of the vehicle as though dead. The victims were brought to the basement, which was at the back of the chapel and beneath the choir office. ELENA followed. Inside the basement the victims were continually mauled, whipped with a gun, and beaten with steel tubes, lead pipes and other blunt instruments. One of the victims was tied with wire. Filemon Garcia arrived with a blowtorch and also entered the basement. ELENA heard the victims beg for mercy. Unable to endure the sight she sat in front of the chapel and stayed for 30 minutes. Pastor Almedina arrived and told her that they would talk about her problem at another time. Afterwards the victims were herded back to the Fiera. They seemed almost dead.[16]
On 10 March 1992, at 8:45 a.m., the lifeless body of FELIX was found floating on the Pasig River near Beata-Tawiran in Pandacan. At 12:25 p.m., ERWIN’s body was retrieved from the same river at the back of the Sta. Ana market. At about the same time, the decomposing bodies of ANDRES, MARLON and JOSEPH were also fished out of the Pasig River near Lambingan Bridge.[17]
SPO3 Myrna Ricasa prepared the crime report and was part of the group that conducted the police line-up on 13 March 1992. Witnesses to the abduction identified the accused from among five line-ups. JOSEPHINE identified ABELLA as among the passengers of the Ford Fiera. EVELYN pointed to GRANADA; Roy Ronquillo and Noel Estorel, who were not presented as witnesses, identified DE GUZMAN and VALENCIA, respectively.[18]
Appellants advanced alibi as their defense. They all claim to have attended the panata at the Punta Sta. Ana chapel on 8 March 1992 from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m., save for ABELLA whose attendance was excused. The panata is a religious practice of the INC held for seven consecutive days as preparation for the santa cena or holy supper. In 1992, the panata was held from 8 to 14 March 1992 and the santa cena, on 15 March 1992.[19] VALENCIA testified that after the panata on 8 March 1992, he went home to San Juan, Metro Manila; it was then about 11:00 p.m.[20] For his part, GRANADA claimed that after attending the panata, he left the Iglesia compound with Filemon and Marilou Garcia. The three arrived at the Garcia residence in Bacood, Sta. Mesa, at 11:00 p.m. Filemon and GRANADA had snacks and watched two movies on the video player. It was already past midnight when GRANADA went home.[21]GRANADA’s testimony was corroborated by both Filemon and Marilou.[22]
ABELLA was a member of the PNP highway patrol group assigned to Mobile Unit No. 13 in March of 1992. His tour of duty was from 2:00 to 10:00 p.m. He was previously granted exemption from attending the panata. Together with PO3 Ferdinand Parolina, he patrolled Roxas Boulevard from the corner of T.M. Kalaw St. to the corner of Vito Cruz St. on 8 March 1992. ABELLA and Parolina parted ways at 10:15 p.m.[23] PO3 Parolina, who drove the mobile car, corroborated ABELLA’s testimony.[24]
According to former accused Bienvenido Tugay, on 11 March 1992 at 11:00 p.m., Major Joe Pring arrived at the Iglesia compound in Punta, Sta. Ana, with police officers, demanding entrance inside the premises. Since there was no order from his superior allowing outsiders to enter the compound, Tugay refused. Enraged, Pring asked for the names of Tugay’s companions. Tugay enumerated the names of appellants.[25]
The following day, appellants read their names in newspapers as among the perpetrators of the crime. Alarmed, they consulted the INC Central Office on what steps to take. Accompanied by Atty. Restituto Lazaro of the Iglesia’s legal department, appellants proceeded to see Gen. Diokno at the Western Police District Headquarters on 13 March 1992 “to clear their names.” Major Pring brought them to his office and hurriedly organized a police line-up. During the line-up Major Pring allegedly tapped all the accused on the shoulder as a signal to the prosecution witnesses for identifying them. Accordingly, appellants were identified.[26]
On 7 February 1995, after several instances where defense counsel questioned his orders and doubted his partiality, Judge Nitafan inhibited himself from further hearing the cases. The cases were re-raffled to Branch 35 presided over by Judge Ramon P. Makasiar, who penned the decision on 15 November 1996 convicting the accused.[27] The dispositive portion reads:
WHEREFORE, judgment is rendered pronouncing the four accused in these cases: JUANITO ABELLA y GARCIA, DIOSDADO GRANADA y SALCEDO, BENJAMIN DE GUZMAN y LABASAN, and EDGARDO VALENCIA y VILLANUEVA guilty beyond reasonable doubt of MURDER on five (5) counts, and sentencing each of them to the penalties of five (5) reclusion perpetua, and to pay the costs in proportionate shares.
The said four accused are further ordered, jointly and severally, to pay:
To Erlinda Ronquillo and Betty Ronquillo
P91,607.70 for actual damages,
P500,000.00 to each of them for moral damages,
P500,000.00 to each of them for exemplary damages;
To Domingo Tamayo
P33,125.50 for actual damages,
P500,000 for moral damages,
P500,000 for exemplary damages;
To Andres Lojero, Sr.
P60,716.00 for actual damages,
P1,000,000.00 for moral damages,
P1,000,000.00 for exemplary damages.
SO ORDERED.[28]
This decision was amended to include an award of P50,000 as indemnity for the death of each of the victims.[29]
Appellants are now before us contending that the trial court erred:
I
IN FINDING THAT THERE WAS POSITIVE AND CLEAR IDENTIFICATION OF THE ACCUSED IN THE ALLEGED ABDUCTION OF THE VICTIMS;
II
IN GIVING CREDENCE TO THE TESTIMONY OF ALLEGED EYEWITNESS ELENA BERNARDO;
III
IN HOLDING THAT CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE ADDUCED BY THE PROSECUTION IS SUFFICIENT TO SUSTAIN CONVICTION;
IV
IN FINDING ACCUSED’S DEFENSE OF ALIBI WEAK;
V
IN HOLDING THAT TREACHERY WAS PRESENT TO QUALIFY THE CRIME TO MURDER; and
VI
IN RULING THAT THE VOLUNTARY SURRENDER OF THE ACCUSED DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCE.[30]
As to the first assignment of error, appellants contend that reliance on the testimonies of JOSEPHINE and EVELYN is misguided. In JOSEPHINE’s testimony she expressly named the abductors as GRANADA and a “good-looking guy,” referring to ABELLA, who “could be easily remembered”; but in her sworn statement she only mentioned GRANADA. Such omission of an important detail casts doubt on the veracity of her identification of ABELLA. Neither did EVELYN identify ABELLA, De Guzman and Valencia during the police line-up and in her sworn statement of 11 March 1992, although she pointed to all appellants when she testified in court. That GRANADA was recognized both by JOSEPHINE and EVELYN in a dimly lit place at night because of his gray hair is likewise unworthy of belief.
Appellants claim in their second assignment of error that ELENA’s testimony was a mere concoction with loopholes that were revealed during cross-examination. Her insistence that all the victims were stabbed was disproved by medico-legal findings. Her testimony was uncorroborated by either testimonial or physical evidence and was even contradicted by the ocular inspection as observed by the presiding judge himself. Admittedly holding a grudge against GRANADA, she is a biased witness motivated by vindictiveness.
In their third assignment of error, appellants allege that the circumstances relied upon by the trial court were not established with certainty. The only circumstances proven were the basketball altercation, the stoning of the Ronquillos’ house, FELIX’s attempt to flee and the fact that the victims were fished out of the Pasig River. Testimonies on the abduction are patently inconsistent with each other. Nothing connects the appellants to the basketball altercation or the stoning of the Ronquillos’ house. The link between appellants and the De los Santos brothers is tenuous.
Appellants next assert that their defense of alibi gained strength because they were not positively identified. They further maintain that the use of superior force as a qualifying circumstance was not alleged in the information and could not therefore serve to elevate the killing to murder. Neither could treachery be considered, as there were no witnesses to the actual killing. Lastly, appellants equate their move to “clear their names” to the mitigating circumstance of voluntary surrender.
We affirm the conviction of appellants. After a careful scrutiny of the witnesses’ testimonies, we find that all the appellants were positively identified as the ones who abducted and killed the victims.
I
JOSEPHINE readily recognized GRANADA from among the abductors who alighted from the Fiera, as he was her neighbor and she has known him since she was a child. In spite of the black handkerchief covering GRANADA’s face, JOSEPHINE was familiar with his physique and physical features, particularly his prematurely graying hair. She was in front of the victims when they were abducted.[31] When part of the face of the accused is not visible, positive identification is difficult. Nevertheless when despite such artifice the witness is familiar with the accused,[32] or his identity is not sufficiently hidden due to his physical appearance,[33] or there are extraneous factors,[34] recognition is facilitated. Identification becomes quite an easy task even from a considerable distance, once a person has gained familiarity with another.[35]
With regard to ABELLA, JOSEPHINE was able to recognize him as one of the abductors because he had no cover on his face and he was a “good-looking guy” who “could easily be remembered.” The alleged inconsistency between her sworn statement where she failed to mention ABELLA and her testimony in court is imaginary. JOSEPHINE’s testimony was merely an amplification of her sworn statement in which she admitted:
T: Maliban kina BOBOT, JOEY at GENER, mayroon ka pa bang nakilala?
S: Mayroon pa po akong namukhaan ngunit hindi ko alam ang kanilang mga pangalan.[36]
It is probable that she found out ABELLA’s name only after the sworn statement was executed. There is no inconsistency when what the witness stated in open court are but details or additional facts not mentioned in the affidavit.[37]
EVELYN testified that she recognized the appellants as among the abductors of the victims and then proceeded to name them in court.[38] She particularly recognized GRANADA, as she had seen him on several occasions. Her assertion that GRANADA’s face was not covered, contrary to JOSEPHINE’s testimony, does not detract from the fact that GRANADA was indeed one of the abductors. The handkerchief covering GRANADA’s face could have fallen off in the course of the commotion. Besides, it is not to be expected that all witnesses viewed the abduction at the same stages.
WILFREDO was part of the victims’ group when the abduction took place, but he ran for safety after one of the abductors fired warning shots. He allegedly recognized GRANADA despite the handkerchief on the latter’s face. GRANADA’s white hair and pointed nose became rooted in WILFREDO’s consciousness as GRANADA got off the van, introduced himself as a policeman, and fired two warning shots. Most often the face and body movements of the assailant create an impression which cannot be easily erased from memory.[39]
Not only was WILFREDO physically present and an eyewitness when the abduction took place, but more importantly two of the victims were his brothers. Blood relatives have a definite stake at seeing the guilty person brought before the courts so that justice may be served. It would be unnatural for a relative who is interested in vindicating the crime to accuse somebody other than the real culprit.[40]
II
ELENA’s testimony is sufficient to convict appellants. She positively identified all the appellants as among the passengers of the Fiera and whom she saw torturing the victims. She could not have been mistaken in identifying them because she knew them very well, they being deacons of the INC.[41] She was only four meters away when the Fiera passed by her.[42]Her identification must have been confirmed when appellants alighted from the Fiera and proceeded to the so-called basement. Out of curiosity, she followed and stayed near the door of the basement[43] where she saw appellants and their cohorts maul and torture the victims. Although the electric lights inside the compound were switched off she could see the culprits and the mauling of the victims, since the place was illuminated by two streetlights outside.[44]
The appellants attack, for being contrary to physical evidence, ELENA’s testimony that she saw some of their cohorts, particularly Boy Valencia and Virgilio de Guzman, stab the victims. Indeed, the post -mortem examination on the bodies of the victims yielded no finding of stab wounds. This physical evidence is a mute and an eloquent manifestation of truth; it rates high in the hierarchy of trustworthy evidence.[45] Thus, where the physical evidence runs counter to the testimony of the prosecution witness, as in this case, the former should prevail.[46] At any rate, when asked on cross-examination whether the victims suffered stab wounds, ELENA answered, “Siguro po, hindi ko po alam.”[47]
ELENA must have been mistaken in her observation of the events or in her recollection. But this is understandable, as several persons were actively engaged in the mauling of the victims. It would have been highly unlikely for her to remember accurately their movements. Lapse of time blurs recollections. Human memory can be treacherous. It is a very common thing for honest witnesses to confuse their recollection of what they actually observed with what they have persuaded themselves to have happened or with impressions and conclusions not really drawn from their actual knowledge.[48]
While ELENA’s testimony on the stabbing does not ring true in the face of the physical evidence, this does not mean that her entire testimony is false or had been contrived. It is significant to note that her identification of the appellants as malefactors was corroborated by the other prosecution witnesses, who pointed to them as the victims’ abductors. Moreover, her testimony that they and their cohorts had beaten the victims by using lead pipes and blunt instruments was corroborated by the autopsy report, which revealed that most of the victims sustained lacerated wounds, contusions and hematoma.
There is a general principle of law that where a witness has testified falsely to some material matter in a case, his testimony in other respects maybe disregarded unless it is corroborated by other proof. This rule of law is expressed in the maxim “Falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus.” This rule, however, has its own limitations, for when the mistaken statement is consistent with good faith and is not conclusively indicative of a deliberate perversion, the believable portion of the testimony should be admitted. Although a person may err in memory or in observation in one or more respects, he may have told the truth as to other respects.[49] Elsewise stated, the maxim deals only with the weight of evidence and is not a positive rule of universal application and should not be applied to portions of the testimony corroborated by other evidence, particularly where the false portions could be innocent mistakes.[50]
Notwithstanding the false or mistaken statements, the trial judge, Judge Makasiar, found ELENA’s version “impressive, as the manner of her narration was straightforward, sincere, candid, frank and terse.”[51] Like the other prosecution witnesses, she had been subjected to “searching, grueling and consuming cross-examination by a determined, brilliant, veteran and astute defense counsel, no less than retired Supreme Court Justice Serafin Cuevas, such that any falsehood and fabrication in [her] narration and identification of the four accused … could have been easily detected and exposed.” But she passed the test.
Settled is the rule that the factual findings of the trial court, especially on the credibility of witnesses are accorded great weight and respect. This is so because the trial court has the advantage of observing the witnesses through the different indicators of truthfulness or falsehood, such as the angry flush of an insisted assertion, the sudden pallor of a discovered lie, the tremulous mutter of a reluctant answer, or the forthright tone of a ready reply; or the furtive glance, the blush of conscious shame, the hesitation, the sincere or the flippant sneering tone, the heat, the calmness, the yawn, the sigh, the candor or lack of it, the scant or full realization of the solemnity of an oath, the carriage and mien.[52]
Admittedly, ELENA’s testimony has some discrepancies. However, the trial court emphasized:
[I]t is to be expected that some discrepancies, and even self-contradictions, will appear on cross-examination, especially where the witness is of inferior mental capacity and without any experience in court proceedings, like Elena Bernardo.[53]
The trial court correctly likened Elena’s testimony against appellants, all of whom were ranking members of the Iglesia ni Cristo, as a declaration against interest. This was so because her act of testifying against them put her in danger of being expelled from the said sect. In fact, as admitted by Pastor Cesar Almedina, he and many other local officials of the Church recommended her expulsion allegedly on grounds of non-attendance at church services and violation of the teachings, doctrines, laws and tenets of the Iglesia, which were not, however, specified by him. But the recommendation was disapproved by the Central Office because of these cases.[54]
While ELENA admitted to having a grudge against GRANADA for arresting his son-in-law sometime in 1991, her identification of him as one of the perpetrators of the crime charged cannot be disregarded because it was strongly corroborated by the three other prosecution witnesses, who categorically pointed to him as one of the abductors. Her honesty in admitting her dislike against GRANADA should be considered in her favor.[55] The existence of such grudge does not automatically render her testimony false and unreliable.[56] It must be noted that she had no known quarrel with the other appellants to be considered as sufficient motive in implicating them. Where there is no evidence and nothing to indicate that a witness for the prosecution was actuated by improper motive, the presumption is that she was not so actuated.
As to her long silence or reluctance to give her statement or to testify, ELENA explained that she was initially barred by then Judge Nitafan from testifying. Besides, there was a threat on her life by one of the suspects in the killing of herein five victims.[57] Nevertheless, she had already reported the incident to a certain Brother Cerilo del Rosario, who replaced Pastor Almedina after the latter was transferred to another chapel, and that sometime in 1993 she went to the Central Office of the INC and related the whole event to Brother Eduardo Manalo.[58]
At any rate, the failure of a witness to report to the police authorities the crime that she had witnessed is not a matter affecting her credibility. The natural reticence of most people to get involved in a criminal case is of judicial notice.[59]
III
Concededly, there were no eyewitnesses to the actual killing of the victims. But the following of circumstances leave no shred of doubt that the appellants were the perpetrators of the crime:
On the morning of 7 March 1992, the victims MARLON and JOSEPH had a basketball altercation with JOEY and his two companions;
Later that day, JOEY was caught bringing two pillboxes to Dalisay Street, where the victims reside;
Between 5:00 and 6:00 p.m. of 8 March 1992, JOEY and GENER, both members of the INC, threw stones at the Ronquillos’ house, attracting the attention of neighbors who in turn mauled them;
Between 8:00 and 9:00 p.m. of that same date, after the De los Santos brothers pointed at the victims, the appellants and their cohorts picked up and herded the victims into a Ford Fiera, which then sped away;
At about 10:00 p.m. the victims, except the one lying in the vehicle who seemed either unconscious or dead, were brought to a so-called basement in the Iglesia compound in Punta, Sta. Ana.There, they were mauled, tortured and beaten by appellants, who were deacons of the INC, as well as by their cohorts, using steel tubes, lead pipes, guns and other blunt instruments. Thereafter, they were loaded into the van, which forthwith sped out of the compound; and
Three days later, or on 10 March 1992, the victims’ bodies were found floating on the Pasig River, showing signs of foul play.
These circumstances are sufficient to establish the guilt of the appellants beyond reasonable doubt of the crime charged. They constitute an unbroken chain which leads to one fair and reasonable conclusion pointing to the appellants, to the exclusion of all others, as the guilty persons.[60]
IV
As for appellants’ defense of alibi, we have consistently held this to be the weakest of all the defenses. Appellants were unable to show that it was physically impossible for them to have been present at the scene of the crime. GRANADA, DE GUZMAN and VALENCIA claimed to have been attending the “Panata” rites on 8 March 1992, the date of the abduction and mauling of the five victims. However, considering that there were at least 200 members of the INC who attended the panata, it was possible for them to have sneaked out unnoticed into the Ford Fiera to Lakas Street, picked up the five victims and waited in the evening for the grounds to be deserted before bringing them inside the INC compound. Neither was ABELLA able to show by clear and convincing evidence that it was physically impossible for him to go from his alleged post at the corner of T.M. Kalaw St. and Roxas Boulevard to Lakas Street, Bacood, Sta. Mesa. Thus, appellants’ defense of alibi must fail. Besides, such defense is worthless in view of the positive identification of appellants as the culprits.
V
We agree with the trial court that the killing was characterized by treachery. It is true that treachery should normally attend at the inception of the aggression. However, when the victim was first seized and bound and then slain, treachery is present.[61] In this case, it is enough to point out that the victims’ hands were tied at the back when their bodies were found floating in Pasig River. This fact clearly shows that the victims were rendered defenseless and helpless, thereby allowing the appellants to commit the crime without risk at all to their persons.
The circumstance of abuse of superior strength was absorbed in treachery and cannot be considered as an independent aggravating circumstance. It need not be alleged in the information, as treachery was adequate to elevate the killing to murder.
VI
We cannot equate appellants’ move to “clear their names” as voluntary surrender. For a surrender to be voluntary, it must be spontaneous and should show the intent of the accused to submit himself unconditionally to the authorities, either because (1) he acknowledges his guilt or (2) he wishes to save the government the trouble and expense necessarily included for his search and capture.[62] In an analogous case, we have held that when the accused goes to a police station merely to clear his name and not to give himself up, voluntary surrender may not be appreciated.[63]
Lastly, we affirm the awards made by the trial court except as to the awards of moral and exemplary damages, which are, however, reduced from P500,000 to P50,000 each.
WHEREFORE, the challenged decision of Branch 35 of the Regional Trial Court of Manila in Criminal Cases Nos. 96-104529 to -33 is hereby AFFIRMED with the modification that the awards of moral and exemplary damages are hereby reduced from P500,000 to P50,000 each.
SO ORDERED.
Puno, Kapunan, Pardo, and Ynares-Santiago, JJ., concur.
[1] His name was alternatively spelled Marion in the transcript.
[2] Exhibit “B,” Crim. Case No. 104529.
[3] Exh. “B,” Crim. Case No. 104531; TSN, 22 September 1992, 11.
[4] Exh. “B,” Crim. Case No. 104532.
[5] Exh. “B- Lojero,” Crim. Case No. 104533.
[6] Exh. “B-Tamayo,” Crim. Case No. 104530.
[7] Rollo, 11-12, 15-16, 19-20, 23-24, 27-28.
[8] Rollo, 13-14, 17-18, 21-22, 25-26, 29-30.
[9] Original Record (OR), 260-261.
[10] TSN, 26 May 1992, 19-21.
[11] Id., 21-22.
[12] TSN, 26 May 1992, 23-24.
[13] TSN, 22 May 1992, 40-43.
[14] TSN, 26 May 1992, 25, 34; 14 July 1992, 5, 14-15.
[15] TSN, 22 May 1992, 44-45, 51-52; 26 May 1992, 25-27, 31-34; 14 July 1992, 5-8, 14-15.
[16] TSN, 6 December 1995, 6-15, 34-36, 66-79, 95-98; 20 December 1995, 7-8, 61; 10 January 1996, 6- 7, 10-11, 35; 24 January 1996, 14, 38, 63-65; 28 February 1996, 21-22.
[17] Exh. “A.”
[18] TSN, 26 August 1992, 3-12; 13 September 1995, 24, 33, 38-39.
[19] TSN, 6 September 1995, 13-17, 20-22; 27 September 1995, 17-22; 25 October 1995, 7-8.
[20] TSN, 25 October 1995, 20-21.
[21] TSN, 6 September 1995, 22-25, 78-79.
[22] TSN, 1 February 1995, 15-18, 36; 11 October 1995, 19-23.
[23] TSN, 20 September 1995, 4-8, 19-20, 47-49, 64-67, 71-74.
[24] TSN, 11 October 1995, 36-40, 45.
[25] TSN, 18 October 1995, 59-63.
[26] TSN, 6 September 1995, 38-47, 54, 87-88; 20 September 1995, 34-40; 18 October 1995, 63-69; 25 October 1995, 10-13; 25 March 1996, 10-16, 22-30.
[27] Rollo, 67- 110.
[28] The P50,000 death indemnity for the victims was not mentioned in the dispositive portion but was included in the body of the decision. Rollo, 110.
[29] Rollo, 114-115.
[30] Appellants’ Brief, Rollo, 156-157.
[31] TSN, 14 July 1992, 6.
[32] People v. Aguilar 8 SCRA 387 [1963]; People v. Torino, 11 SCRA 287, 293 [1964]; People v. Baligod, 227 SCRA 834, 840 [1993].
[33] People v. Alban, 1 SCRA 931, 933-934 [1961] where the mask below the eyes of the accused did not sufficiently hide his identity due to his exposed forehead and physical appearance.
[34] See People v. Tabago, 167 SCRA 65 [1988] where only the lower portion of the face was covered; other parts of the body were visible and distinguishable in broad daylight.
[35] People v. Matubis, 288 SCRA 210, 221 [1998].
[36] Exhibit “3”; OR, 551-552.
[37] See People v. Conde, 252 SCRA 681, 690 [1996].
[38] TSN, 14 July 1992, 7.
[39] People v. Apongan, 270 SCRA 713, 728 [1997], citing People v. Gomez, 251 SCRA 455, 469-470 [1995].
[40] People v. Boniao, 217 SCRA 653, 671 [1993]; People v. Galas, 262 SCRA 381, 391 [1996]. See People v. Tulop, 289 SCRA 316, 331 [1998]; People v. Abria, 300 SCRA 556, 563 [1998].
[41] TSN, 6 December 1995, 10.
[42] Id., 96.
[43] TSN, 28 February 1996, 35.
[44] TSN, 10 January 1996, 11.
[45] People v. Nepomuceno, 298 SCRA 450, 463 [1998].
[46] People v. Vasquez, 280 SCRA 160, 175 [1997].
[47] TSN, 6 December 1995, 77.
[48] VII VICENTE J. FRANCISCO 443, Part II (1997).
[49] VII VICENTE J. FRANCISCO 443, Part II (1997), Id., 531, 533.
[50] People v. Ruiz, 93 SCRA 739, 763 [1979]; People v. Bibat, 290 SCRA 27, 37-38 [1998].
[51] Decision, 30.
[52] People v. Quijada, 259 SCRA 191, 212-213 [1996]. Citing People v. De Guzman, 188 SCRA 407 [1990]; People v. Delovino, 247 SCRA 637 [1995].
[53] Decision, 31.
[54] TSN, 6 March 1996, 16-17, 73-74.
[55] See People v. Ilao, 296 SCRA 658, 668 [1998].
[56] See People v. Oliano, 287 SCRA 158, 169 [1998].
[57] TSN, 6 December 1995, 17.
[58] Id., 105; TSN, 20 December 1995, 72-74, 80-81.
[59] People v. Aguiluz, 207 SCRA 187, 195 [1992].
[60] People v. Maqueda, 242 SCRA 565, 591-592 [1995].
[61] See U.S. v. De Leon, 1 Phil. 163, 164 [1902]; U.S. v. Elicanal, 35 Phil. 209, 218 [1916]; People v. Mongado, 28 SCRA 612, 650 [1969]; People v. Ong, 62 Phil. 174, 211 [1975].
[62] People v. Lee, 204 SCRA 900, 911 [1991].
[63] People v. Evangelista, 256 SCRA 611, 625 [1996].

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Buhay na buhay ang Tunay na Iglesia ni Cristo sa Gitnang Silangan. Kumusta naman ang inyong sekta?

St. Joseph's Parish Centre inaugurated by H.E. Sheikh Nahyan, Culture Minister, UAE

Abu Dhabi [News Karnataka]: The newly constructed St. Joseph’s Parish Centre was inaugurated by H.E. Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development at a ceremony held on October 9th at 7.30 p.m. The event was also attended by H.E. Ali Al Hashimi, Religious Consellor at the Ministry of Presidential Affairs and a few other government officials of Abu Dhabi.

At the invitation of H.E. Bishop Paul Hinder (OFM Cap), Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia, present on the occasion were H.E. Archbishop Petar Rajic, Apostolic Nuncio to the Arabian Peninsula and H.E. Bishop Camillo Ballin, Apostolic Vicar of Northern Arabia. Also present were Fr. Savarimuthu, Parish Priest of St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Abu Dhabi, all the Assitant priests and a host of priests from various parishes of the United Arab Emirates.

Dignitaries arrived at the venue at 7.30pm. The compere, Roydon D'mello welcomed the congregation present and invited the Chief Guest, H.E. Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan to open the centre by cutting the red ribbon on the main door. Upon declaring open the new structure, the guests walked into the Parish Hall along with the representatives of the Consultant and Contracting firms who were instrumental in erecting the remarkable new building as the Choir sang ‘This is the day that the Lord has made’.



John Conrad, the Vice President of the Parish Council invited the guests and the congregation saying this is a ‘Dream come true’ venture of many parishioners. He also attributed the success of the event amid laud applauds from the congregation to the Late President H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan who was the founder of this dream of the Catholic faithful and current President H.H. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan who supported the venture.

Mementos were then given to H.E. Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan and H.E. Ali Al Hashimi by Bishop Paul Hinder. Flower bouquets were also presented to all the dignitaries. Addressing the guests, Bishop Paul Hinder expressed his gratitude to the President of UAE, all the government officials, the Municipal authorities for granting necessary permission and ensuring that the venture reached its completion without any hindrance.

Speaking on the occasion, H.E. Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan said that he is glad to have the Cathedral of the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia at Abu Dhabi. He also elaborated the policy of the UAE to respect the expatriate communities of different faiths. He encouraged the Catholic Community to continue to support the UAE in its effort to build a Global nation living in harmony while achieving economic growth.

Archbishop Petar Rajic presented Mementos to the representatives of the Consultant, Mr. Suhail and the Contractor, Mr. Hakim Saadi.

Speaking on the occasion, Fr. Savarimuthu expressed his special thanks to the bishop, Paul Hinder for all the support extended to this project. He also thanked the members of the Construction Committee for their commitment and whole hearted support. He made a special mention of the enormous contribution of Fr. Eugene Mattioli, who served the Abu Dhabi parish for seventeen and a half year to build up a strong Catholic Community.

The dignitaries then were taken for a tour of the new building as the parishioners continued exchanging greetings on the occasion as the choir sang, ‘Give thanks to the Holy One’. This day will be written in the history of Catholic faith of the Arabian Peninsula with golden letters as a remarkable landmark achieved both in terms of faith and fraternity of various religions.