Henni Espinosa, ABS-CBN North America News Bureau
Posted at Jul 28 2016 06:38 PM
Posted at Jul 28 2016 06:38 PM
REDWOOD CITY, California - A video recently surfaced that reportedly showed residents of No. 36 Tandang Sora Avenue in Quezon City, Philippines pleading for help.
In the disputed property, expelled members of the influential Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC), including Lottie and Angel, siblings of INC Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo, are reportedly living in deplorable conditions.
Rolando Dizon, former INC pastor said, "When you cut off the supply of food and water and medicine, you only have several days to live especially given their condition. There's no generator that produce electricity. You can only imagine how hot it is inside and so we're very concerned. Time is of the essence."
Dizon and Louie Cayabyab are among the so-called US-based "defenders" – former INC pastors and members who are speaking up against alleged abuses within the INC leadership.
They asked that their location be not identified.
They are calling on the INC to leave the residents of No. 36 Tandang Sora alone, which they said include children, the elderly and the sick.
The property is reportedly surrounded by masked guards who allegedly attacked the lawyer for Angel and Lottie, when she and her companions tried to help those inside the house recently.
"We are supposed to be the church of Christ but we are not following our lord Jesus Christ anymore," said cayabyab.
Last month, a Manila court has ordered the Manalo siblings to leave the compound and give up the property to the INC. They’ve sought refuge there since being expelled from the church last year.
Still, defenders said these former members should not be harassed and denied of basic needs.
Dizon expressed, "Even if they are not members of the church of Christ anymore because they were expelled by the leadership, they're still human beings."
They are now appealing to the new Philippine President Rodrigo Durterte to step in and do something because they said lives are at stake.
"Our brethren there are helpless and if something happens to them, that might also be not good for your image and for your administration," pleaded Cayabyab.
Balitang America tried to reach out to the INC leadership in North America but they have yet to respond to the latest conflict.
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