Kalunus-lunos at kahindik-hindik na mababasa sa isang ministro ng INC™ 1914 na nag-uudyok at nanghihikayat na "papatay sa katoliko" dahil sa isang kaanib na nagtatalumpati bilang graduate ng PMA (Philippine Military Academy).
Una, hindi po graduate ng New Era University ang nasabing kadete para ipagpalagay na personal na bodyguard ng INC™ ang nasabing kadete. Siya po ay para PAGLILINGKOD SA BAYAN. Siya ay ginastusan ng BUWIS NG BAYAN (mula sa buwis ng bawat Pilipino na 80% nito ay mga Katoliko).
Pangalawa, naniniwala akong hindi sinasang-ayunan ng pamunuan ng Iglesia Ni Cristo® ang mga saloobing katulad ng kay Ginoong Reden Ortaleza, isang ministro sa loob ng 40 taon na. At sa pahayag ng Ka Eduardo V. Manalo sa kanyang pangangaral, sinabi niya sa kaniyang mga tagasunod na dapat "palitan ang maling pag-uugali". Hindi ba't maling pag-uugali ang pagnanais na pumatay ng tao dahil lamang sa hindi natin sila kaanib sa ating relihiyon o sekta?
Sana, bigyan ng disiplina ang ministrong ito. Kung may pagtutol siya sa mga aral ng Iglesia Katolika ay doon siya dapat magpahayag ng kanyang saloobin at hindi sa mga tagasunod nito na nag-uudyok ng dahas laban sa mga Katoliko.
“Kung ang isang manggagawa kakampi sa katiwalian hindi pwedeng manindigan. Kung ang isang maggagawa siya pang nagtuturo ng katiwalian eh lalong masamangmanggagawa ito. Wala nang sariling paninindigan ay siya pang kasangkapan ng diablo. Eh sino ho ‘yang ganyang manggagawa? Maraming manggagawa natin halos lahat ganyan.”-Eraño G. Manalo [listen to In Defense of the Church]
Napakalinaw na sa episode na ito ng mga kaibigan nating mga ministro ng INC na doon sa screen na ipinakita nila kung saan nagbigay ako ng komento na MALI na nilagyan ni Ventilacion ng "Far East" ang word na "Mizrach" sa Aleppo Codex ay tama naman talaga ang pahayag ko.
Noong sabihin ko na mali na nilagyan ng "Far East" ay yung sa screen mismo mula sa Aleppo Codex.
Ngayon, Hebrew ang pinag-uusapan, bakit gagamit ng translation na moffatt [sic] at good news [sic] para patunayan na May "Far" sa Hebrew ng Isaiah 43:5?
Translation ba ang ipinakita ni Ventilacion sa screen? Saan sa hebrew [sic] text ng Isaiah 43:5 ang hebrew [sic] word na "Rachoq"? Natapos lang ang programa nila na puro translation ang ginamit at hindi tinalakay sa hebrew [sic].
Ngayon, hintayin natin kung may ipapakitang hebrew [sic] text ang mga ministro ng INC kung saan naroroon ang hebrew [sic] word na "Rachoq" sa Isaiah 43:5. Ang Hebrew word na Mimizarch ay hindi rin “Far East”. Ang Mi ay tinatawag na "preposition," ibig sabihin ay "from". -Bro. D. Cartujano
BLINDFOLDED so our dear brother would not be able to identify those familiar and famous faces he was presented to, blindfolded so he would only hear his interrogators, blindfolded so he would not see his torturers who are familiar to him as Bro. Felix has seen them tailing him for quiet some time. He was interrogated on the messages of supporters on his celphone which resulted in a mass expulsion of silent defenders in Australia.
The killers of Ka Felix are the same killers of GOOD SAMARITANS Danilo Patungan, Lito Fruto and Peter Ledesma. All men whose common ‘crime’ is simply delivering food to the family of KA ERDY.
Rovic Canono is arrested over a case allegedly instigated by the INC. Canono is suspected to be behind the critical blogs against the powerful church, an allegation he denies.
By Katerina Francisco @kaifrancisco Rappler.com / 11/30/2016
DETAINED. INC member Rovic Canono is detained in Camp Karingal over a case filed by his ex-wife. Sourced photo
MANILA, Philippines – An expelled member of the influential homegrown church Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) has been arrested over a case filed by his wife, allegedly under the instigation of the church leadership.
Rovic Canono was arrested and detained in Camp Karingal, Quezon City, on Friday, November 11, for violation of Republic Act 9262, or the anti-violence against women and children act.
Canono is accused of violating Sections 5(h) and (i) of RA 9262, which refer to causing emotional or psychological distress to the woman or her child, and causing mental or emotional anguish, public ridicule, or humiliation.
Canono is reportedly suspected of being behind social media accounts critical of the church leadership.
Over the past year, the Facebook account "Sher Lock" and the blog "Silent No More" have been running stories alleging corruption within the church's ranks. The blog and Facebook page have also posted stories on the alleged abductions of church ministers and harassment of the estranged siblings of INC executive minister Eduardo Manalo, in an ongoing issue that has rocked the church since July last year. (READ: Revolt in the Iglesia ni Cristo)
The bench warrant of arrest against Canono was issued by Judge Jacqueline Martin-Balictar of the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 9.
The charge against Canono was filed by his wife, with whom he has been separated for several years. Rappler learned that Canono was taken from his condominium in Eastwood, Quezon City by armed operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit wearing civilian clothing.
Instead of being brought to the nearby police station inside Eastwood, however, Canono was taken to Camp Karingal in Sikatuna Village, about 5 kilometers away from the Central Temple of Iglesia.
According to a joint affidavit of arrest filed by the arresting police officers, Canono allegedly violently resisted arrest and had tried to call for help from his friends instead of contacting a lawyer. SPO1 Luisito Ubias and PO1 Mario Morales allegedly sustained injuries from the incident.
Canono is now facing an additional complaint of direct assault and resistance and disobedience to a person in authority.
Wilfredo Santos from the INC's legal department has taken on the case against Canono. The INC-run news network Net25 was already in Camp Karingal when Canono arrived.
Lawyer Rene Saguisag – also the counsel for the estranged Manalo siblings – is handling Canono's case.
Rappler contacted Bro. Edwil Zabala, spokesman for the INC, for comment, but there has been no reply as of Sunday afternoon. This story will be updated once a statement or comment from the INC is released.
Similar to Menorca?
According to the "Silent No More" blog, the circumstances of Canono's arrest were similar to those of expelled member Lowell Menorca II. In July 2015, Menorca was illegally detained for nearly 3 months under alleged orders of the church's leaders, and was previously arrested in Dasmariñas, Cavite, for alleged illegal possession of an explosive. The charge is a non-bailable offense.
Menorca at the time pointed to the INC's Sanggunian or Council as the perpetrators behind his arrest and illegal detention. Later an adultery case was filed against him.
In March 2016, Menorca left the country with his family, citing an alleged death threat and continued harassment from his critics.
In a message to Rappler, Menorca said that Canono's arrest was "all too familiar" to him, and that the operation had "all the fingerprints of the well-coordinated and influenced efforts of a very powerful institution."
"I know that the pattern will emerge soon enough to reveal the powerful hand behind these series of seemless events and circumstances that can only be possible, as orchestrated by a very influential force that has perfected this craft of inquisition against those whom they consider enemies for being critical of the church," he said.
Menorca added that since Canono's case can be resolved by posting bail, he may be charged with numerous other cases to either keep him in jail or exhaust his financial resources.
The "Silent No More" blog also posted a photo of a letter supposedly written by Canono in July 2015. According to the letter, Canono had been told that he was being "hunted down by a group of men" upon the orders of the INC leaders.
INC TO BLAME? The "Silent No More" blog posts a letter supposedly written by Rovic Canono in July 2015. Photo from Silent No More blog
The letter contained a list of names "[to] be held accountable if harm/death" happens to him or his family.
The list included the INC executive minister, his wife, Babylyn; INC auditor Glicerio Santos Jr, and other church officials. – Rappler.com
Note: We initially referred to Rovic Canono as a member of the INC. We have since updated the story to reflect his status as an expelled member.
Hindi ito karapat-dapat itawag sa Ka Babylyn kundi kay Gng. Cristina “Tenny” V. Manalo sapagkat natupad sa kanya ang pagkakahalintulad kay Jezebel.
Tulad ni Jezebel, si Gng. Tenny ay nagdulot ng isa sa mga pinaka malubhang suliraning pagka-bahabahagi.
Tlad ni Jezebel, si Gng. Tenny ay nanghikayat sa mga lingkod ng Diyos na lumabag sa kautusan ng Diyos nang siya ay manawagan sa Youtube.
Tulad ni Jezebel, si Gng. Tenny ay nakikialam sa Pamamahala ng Kapatid na Eduardo V. Manalo dahil tumatangap at sumasagot si Gng. Tenny Manalo ng sulat ukol sa Ordenasyon ng mga Manggagawa.
Tulad ni Jezebel, si Gng. Tenny ay nakikialam sa Pamamahala ng Kapatid na Eduardo V. Manalo dahil tumatangap at sumasagot ng sulat ng mga nagbabalik na na-disiplinang Ministro at Manggagawa.
Tulad ni Jezebel, pinakikialaman ni Gng. Tenny ang mga gawain at pasya ng ating Tagapamahalang Pangkalahatan, ang kapatid na Eduardo V. Manalo dahil sa kanilang hindi pagpapasakop at pangunguna sa mga kapatid na sila ay tulungan dahil sila ay diumano’y nasa panganib.
Tulad ni Jezebel, ang ginawa ni Gng. Tenny ay humantong sa pagpatay ng mga inosenteng tao at mga propeta na maaaring ihalintulad sa pagkapamahak ng kaluluwa ng mga ministro at mga kapatid na natiwalag dahil sa ginawa nilang paghihikayat upang lumaban sa Pamamahala.
Tulad ni Jezebel, pinarusahan si Gng. Tenny ng Panginoong Diyos at siya ngayon ay Tiwalag.
Tulad ni Jezebel, ang ginawa pananawagan ni Gng. Tenny ay nagbunga ng paglabag ng ilang mga kapatid sa mga aral ng Diyos.
Samakatwid, kitang kita natin kung kanino natupad ang nasusulat sa Biblia tungkol kay Jezebel sa katauhan ni Gng. Cristina V. Manalo at ito ay kailanman hinding hindi ang kapatid na Babylyn V. Manalo.
Tanong ko lang: Bakit di nila SINABI sa Ka Eraño G. Manalo noong nabubuhay pa ito na ang asawa pala niya, at ina ng mga magiging anak nila (at ina mismo ng nakaupong Executive Minister) ay isa palang 'JEZEBEL' sa makabagong panahon?
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.
MILLIONS IN LOANS? Documents show that key INC officials were signatories in loan agreements to fund the Ciudad de Victoria project, which includes the Philippine arena.
The late INC executive minister Eraño Manalo once said, 'Ang Iglesia ni Cristo ay walang utang kahit na saang bangko. Ang Iglesia ni Cristo ay hindi nagsasanla ng mga titulo ng lupa para lamang makakuha ng pondo.'
Published 12:59 PM, July 27, 2016 (INC 102 Founding Anniversary)
MANILA, Philippines – It was touted as a world-class structure fit to showcase the growing clout of homegrown Philippine church Iglesia ni Cristo (INC). On Wednesday, July 27, the influential church celebrates its 102nd year.
Two years ago in 2014, the Iglesia opened the Philippine Arena, the world’s largest indoor theater, to widespread attention: an P8.7-billion ($200 million) megastructure that served as the centerpiece of the sprawling 75-hectare Ciudad de Victoria complex in Bulacan.
Conceived, designed, and envisioned as a world-class stage for local and international events, the arena has played host to several events: from the INC’s centennial celebrations, to a concert by local celebrity tandem AlDub, and a performance by American pop superstar Katy Perry.
An expert on sociology of religion, Jayeel Cornelio said of the Iglesia ni Cristo in a previous interview that the Philippine Arena "is an establishment, is a marker, of what they (INC) are right now in the 21st century. They're not a religion in the Philippines. They're a religion in the world.”
Funds for the arena, the INC said, came from the donations of its members, a practice that aligns with the teachings of the church’s second executive minister, the late Eraño “Ka Erdy” Manalo.
In some of his messages to INC members, Ka Erdy had emphasized that the INC should spend within its means, and denounced the idea of the church incurring debts to fund its projects.
Documents obtained by Rappler, however, showed that INC officials had engaged in agreements with two banks, to obtain a P1.137 billion loan to partially fund the construction of Phase 1 of the Ciudad de Victoria project.
According to recitals in the loan documents, Phase 1 of the project includes the construction of a “multi-purpose indoor arena, and certain commercial and retail buildings and structures.”
But several amendments to the agreements showed that INC leaders had asked for additional amounts of up to P3 billion to repay the existing loan.
To secure these loan agreements, at least 61 INC-owned properties – ranging from church sites to residential and agricultural areas in Metro Manila, Nueva Ecija, Rizal, Cavite, and Baguio – were put up as mortgaged collateral.
In addition to this, 317 condominium units in Quezon City, with a total market value of more than P1 billion, were also included as collateral.
Up to P3 billion requested
Based on the documents, the INC was one of the parties in loan agreements entered into by the Maligaya Development Corporation (MDC) with two banks: the Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company (MBTC) and the Asia United Bank Corporation (AUB).
Santos Jr was also the signatory for the Felix Y. Manalo Foundation (FMF) and the New Era University (NEU).
According to the memorandum of agreement among MDC, NEU, and INC, the church agreed to turnover the completion of Phase 1 of the Ciudad de Victoria project to NEU, with the participation of MDC.
NEU and MDC were to take part in the “financing, construction and development” of the project.
To finance this, MDC acted as borrower in a March 2014 omnibus loan and security agreement with lender MBTC. The latter agreed to provide P1,137,500,000 to partially fund the construction and development of Phase 1 of the project.
But in July 2014, MDC requested for P750 million from MBTC to repay its existing loan.
A month after that, MDC and MBTC entered into a second amendment to the omnibus agreement. MDC sought up to P3 billion to repay its existing loan, putting the total principal amount to up to P4,887,500,000.
Mortgaged collateral
To secure the loan, MDC and the third party mortgagors (those who mortgage their property) – INC and FMF – provided additional mortgaged collateral, covering 61 INC-owned properties. These properties ranged from church sites to agricultural properties to residential ones, located in various areas in Metro Manila, Nueva Ecija, Cavite, and Baguio.
In addition to this, 317 units owned by the INC in LIG Condominium in Quezon City were included as additional mortgaged collateral. According to the appraisal report, the units have a total market value of P1,000,317,000.
Isang dating kaanib ng INC™, umalis at nagpahayag ng kanyang saloobin at ito ay nagin viral sa inernet. DITO nalathala ang nasabing artikulo:
As I planned to write this piece I was at the crossroads of my membership with the Iglesia ni Cristo. Shall I stay? Or shall I leave? I have been an avid member of the Iglesia ni Cristo since the time of Bro. Eraño Manalo. I believed all its teachings that it is the true church. I stayed loyal for more than a decade now, doing my part and giving my all that was required of the members. I had no complains. I felt it was okay so that we could have beautiful chapels that are our pride and joy. But I am not exactly moneyed: my salary is just enough to give my part. And that explains why I think I am also entitled to say my piece and ask where the money goes. Where do they really go? I am asking this question and other questions because of the recent events that have captured the attention of the world on us. Are we really a true church? Is the Iglesia ni Cristo God’s church? Now and then, I would hear people attacking the teachings of the church especially the part that says Christ is man. But that did not bother me. I still have time to check on that. Politically, there are those issues like the legitimacy of bloc voting that sometimes a brother is pitted against his family. He cannot vote for his relative but only for the wishes of the Administration or else he gets excommunicated. I had an experience that closely hews to this one. It concerned my father who lost the barangay elections because earlier he did not vote for the choice of the Administration. They pitted someone against him. Poor father! That was painful to me but I still let that pass. We were told not to watch the programs of Eliseo Soriano or Bro. Eli – that proud minster that left us and now talks a lot against the church. But one fortunate Friday, without intending to, I had the opportunity to watch him in one of his recent Bible Expositions. There, flashed on the screen, I saw our ministers unabashedly flashing a death threat on him. They were saying, if he comes back (to the country), he would be met at the airport; there would be red carpet on the floor. Candles would burn for him and there would be free peanuts. They sealed their talk saying, “To Bro. Eli, peace be with you!” I was so ashamed of myself. And I thought we drove him away in an effort to gag his mouth. This Bro. Eli was saying at the Exposition that he was forced to leave the country on account of the INC. He explained that events happened fast when he dared our Sugo to have a debate with him. But we did not respond to that challenge, right? I knew that our brother, Daniel Veridiano, had filed a rape case against Soriano. When that move did not prosper, he went to GMA7 and had himself interviewed. I came to know more about this case because of that Boycott Page of the Ang Dating Daan people in Facebook. From the Long Description of that page, it appeared that they are still smarting from a Second Insult from GMA. They say that despite their complaints of irresponsible reporting, some 3 years after, their sister station aired that controversial interview also. That is why it is a GMA7-11 that the Ang Dating Daan are boycotting, going five years now, they say. Don’t tell me we had nothing to do with this GMA caper. We love to persecute Soriano. I also learned that Daniel Veridiano is in fact a former member of Soriano’s group. He is called “Puto” over there. They know him as one who took advantage of 14 of his office mates – all sexual offenses. It appears that the INC only used him against Soriano and more. The case was dismissed and then re-filed by virtue of INC influence with Gloria Arroyo, the president that time. That is why the preacher is charging us with panggigipit. This persecution has something to do with political influence, right? If we center this discussion on Soriano – the man we love to pester just because he keeps examining our beliefs – he would say in his expositions that we are guilty of the following: “pamamaratang, panggigipit, paninira, pagdedemanda, pagtatangka sa buhay, at panguusig sa ADD.” In English, these are “ false accusations, persecutions, defamations, filing cases of false charges, threat on life, and oppression of the Ang Dating Daan.”
"Sapat ang video na ito upang magsalarawan kung gaano na kasama ang pangangasiwa ni ka Eduardo at ang naging bunga nito sa pag-uugali at moral ng mga kapatid sa Iglesia.
Maging ang mga taong hindi Kristyano at hindi naniniwala sa Diyos na nasa katinuan ng pag-iisip ay nalalaman kung ano ang tama at mali.
Ang lahat ng ito ay nag ugat nang patuloy na magpailalim si ka Eduardo sa kaniyang asawa na si babylyn ventura na hinuluaan ng kapatid na Erano G. Manalo na bababa sa kaniya ang espiritu ni Jezebel, isang babaeng mapakiapid." -Kelly Ong Defender
AKSYON | Nangangamba ngayon ang isang ginang na tumulong sa itiniwalag ng Iglesia Ni Cristo na si Angel Manalo. Niratrat kasi ng bala ang kanyang bahay sa Rizal. Ulat ni Jay De Castro. (Video uploaded by Melquezedek Ariola; Manuscript edited by Pepher Operio. For any concerns, you may Panoorin ang VIDEO
Nakakalungkot na isipin na isang apo at angkan ng 'Sugo' (daw) na si Felix Manalo ay hahantong sa hindi makataong pagtrato sa kanyang sariling mga KADUGO at kapatid (Ka Lottie at Ka Marc at Angel) at ina nitong si Ka Tenny, asawa ng yumaong Eraño G.Manalo at mga anak na nagkawatak-watak.
Sa kasaysayan ng Iglesia Ni Cristo®-1914, hindi po nagawang ITAKWIL ni Felix Y. Manalo, ang kanilang pinaniniwalaang 'Huling Sugo', ang kanyang sariling ina sa kabila ng pagiging KATOLIKO nito hanggang sa kamatayan. Sa katunayan, INAKO at GINAMIT pa ni FELIX ang apelyido ng kanyang debotong Katolikong ina (MANALO) bilang pagpapakita ng kanyang pagsinta a kanya.
Si Eduardo V. Manalo, ay hindi tumalima sa UTOS ng DIYOS sa Banal na Kasulatan sa Ex. 20:12 at Efeso 6:2. Malinaw na SINUWAY niya ang mga UTOS NG DIYOS sa Banal na Kasulatan kaya't ang pagiging Punong Tagapangasiwa niya sa INC™ na tatag ng kanyang lolo ay hindi kapani-paniwala sapagkat hindi maaaring ang isang pinuno ay hindi sumusunod sa mga turo at aral ng Biblia.
Court orders eviction of INC leader's siblings from QC property ABS-CBN News Posted at Jun 19 2016
MANILA - A Metropolitan Trial Court (MTC) has ordered the two siblings of Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) chief Eduardo V. Manalo from a property of the religious sect in Tandang Sora, Quezon City.
The Manila MTC Branch 12 ruled in favor of the INC's ejectment suit against Manalo's siblings, expelled INC members Felix Nathaniel "Angel" Manalo and Lolita "Lottie" Manalo-Hemedez.
In a six-page decision, Judge Ann Sia of the Manila MTC Branch 12 said the expelled INC members are illegally residing in the church's property in 36 Tandang Sora.
In a press conference on Saturday, INC spokesperson Edwin Zabala said the estranged siblings of the sect's executive minister lost the privilege to live in the property when they were expelled in July 2015.
INC lawyer Moises Tolentino explained: "The privilege had already been terminated when they were expelled from the church, having committed some serious relation of the church doctrines."
"The decision says that they are ordered to immediately vacate and surrender possession of the premises to the plaintiff which is the INC. If they do not do it on their own, we will be compelled to file a motion for execution which we intend to do next week and have it heard by the court," Tolentino added.
Zabala also believes the siblings posed a threat to INC, noting that security personnel at the Tandang Sora property intercepted hearing devices, wire and parts of a drone which were supposedly delivered to Lottie and Angel.
He said the items were allegedly concealed in food deliveries and packages from the visitors of the siblings.
Lottie, Angel and their mother Cristina were expelled from INC after appearing in a YouTube video and claiming that their lives were in danger and that some ministers have allegedly been abducted.
By Eric Rankin, Gavin Fisher, CBC News Posted: Jun 14, 2016
Lowell Menorca says he fears persecution from the Iglesia Ni Cristo. They say his claims are 'fabrications''
Lowell Menorca holds the image he claims a family member found on his car in the Philippines. He says the note prompted him to leave the country, and he is now seeking refugee status in Canada. (Gavin Fisher/CBC)
A Filipino man has applied for refugee status in Canada claiming the lives of his young family have been threatened by members of what he calls a "cult-like" Christian church in the Philippines — and he alleges to CBC News he's still being stalked in Metro Vancouver.
Lowell Menorca, 39, a former un-ordained minister in the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC), or Church of Christ, brought his allegations to the CBC in his first major English language interview.
His case has generated headline news coverage in the Philippines.
Iglesia Ni Cristo is the third largest faith in the Philippines after Catholicism and Islam, and it has hundreds of churches around the world, including many in Canada.
The INC preaches these are "the last days," and only its members will be saved. According to the church's doctrines, to be expelled means losing your salvation.
Menorca says the INC expelled him after a split developed among descendants of the man who founded the church. He says he was suspected of being an anonymous blogger who had accused INC leaders of overspending and corruption.
Menorca believes the leadership has wasted vast amounts of money on things such as a private Airbus jetliner (since sold) and the construction of the Philippine Arena, the biggest covered stadium in the world, built to celebrate the INC's centennial in 2014.
He alleges he was illegally detained by Church officials, arrested by police and then hit with more than 40 lawsuits for libel for speaking out about his alleged treatment from the church.
"This is an orchestrated effort by the church to intimidate me," says Menorca, "to put me behind bars, ultimately to silence me."
Menorca says a family member found this note on his car in the Philippines on March 6, the night before he was to appear at a court hearing against the INC. (Lowell Menorca)
But officials with the Iglesia Ni Cristo call Menorca's claims "fabricated" and "devious."
They say he's fleeing prosecution, not persecution, in the Philippines, and they expect the Canadian government to deny his refugee application.
The INC flew its San Francisco-based supervising attorney to Vancouver to answer the CBC's questions about the case.
Iglesia Ni Cristo supervising attorney Rommel V. San Pedro says that Menorca's claims about the church are "fabricated." (CBC)
"It's so obvious to see that he's fabricated this whole story", says Rommel V. San Pedro.
"In the end, the Canadian government is going to see through all of these allegations, and see there's no threat here."
"We can tell you there is no corruption inside the Iglesia Ni Cristo."
But Menorca claims he has proof church supporters have threatened his life and the lives of his pregnant wife and two-year-old child.
Alleged Threat to Daughter
Menorca's battle with the church came to a head three months ago in the Philippines.
On March 6 — the night before he was to appear at a court hearing against the INC — he claims a family member discovered a photo on the windshield of his car, parked at a safe house.
The family portrait, possibly lifted from Menorca's social media postings, had a red "x" through the face of his two-year-old daughter Yurie — and the warning "March 7, 2016, Say Goodbye."
It was signed "Mandirigma," Tagalog for "warriors"— a term often used online by some who purport to be defenders of the church.
"When I saw it, it literally crumbled my world" says a tearful Menorca.
"I really didn't want to stand by and watch if they're really going to push through with it, so that moment we decided that we would leave the country."
That night, he flew his family to Vietnam.
But he claims the intimidation continued.
Within hours, Menorca says photographs were posted on a Facebook site that appears to target those expelled from the INC, showing his family on the plane and at the airport terminal.
Comments in Tagalog and English accompanied the pictures. Among them: "You can run but you can't hide" and "You will not be able to escape, you are an animal, you are evil!!!"
Intimidation continues in B.C.: Menorca
Menorca said his family next fled to Thailand, seeking a safe haven.
But while he had a valid Visa to the US, his daughter and his pregnant wife Jingky did not.
Menorca says he eventually made the difficult decision to board a flight to Seattle that routed through Vancouver. When he landed on Canadian soil he immediately approached immigration officials and sought refugee status in the hope he can bring his wife and child here.
However, he claims he has continued to be harassed by INC members here in Metro Vancouver, where there are nine congregations, according to the church's website.
Photographs of Menorca recently shopping in a local shopping mall were posted by another Facebook user who appears to be an INC follower.
Again, accompanying comments — seen by CBC News — said things such as:
"Watch your back, someone is behind you".
One poster writes: "Exact location(?)"
The response: "Guildford and Metrotown".
CBC News messaged the Facebook users who had posted images of Menorca in the mall.
One poster referred all questions to the western Canada ecclesiastical division of the INC.
Menorca also has video he says is of four burly Filipino men from Washington State who arrived unannounced at a recent Burnaby prayer meeting organised by dissidents of the church — including Menorca.
Church says Menorca "fabricates"
When asked about these incidents, including the apparently secretly-taken photographs of Menorca, the INC's North American lawyer again dismisses Menorca's version of the events.
"He makes up all these stories. He fabricates them … He's very ingenious. I mean, very devious" says Rommel V. San Pedro.
"Who's not to say Menorca didn't get his friends to take a picture, "X" out his daughter's face, put it on the car, and allege that members of the church did that."
"You can easily make up identities on Facebook and then create a scenario or create an image of something like that happening. But who's to say that's members of the Church of Christ?"
San Pedro says the numerous libel cases launched against Menorca in the Philippines are from individuals, and church leaders "don't really care about Menorca."
"We care about our members. Our Lord Jesus Christ said if one sheep goes off, the shepherd goes after that lost sheep. And we have members who have been affected, confused by his rhetoric, confused by his fabrications," he said.
"What we're doing is we're visiting the members and we're explaining to them what he's doing, and we're encouraging our members to stay strong in the faith."
Controversy within the church
The INC was founded in 1914 by Felix Manalo, who claimed to be the last messenger of God.
The founder's grandson, Eduardo V. Manalo, is now the executive minister of the church.
The Philippine press has reported his siblings have raised issues over his authoritarian leadership, and have been fenced off within the church's central compound. The internal dispute remains on-going.
Eduardo V. Manalo, known as "EVM", is revered by his supporters.
A Youtube music video, produced by INCMedia Services, is entitled "I am One with EVM", and includes the lyrics, "Appointed by God in these last days, is our Church Administrator," and "For the church he will give his very life, and so we will remain on his side."
Leonora Angeles, associate professor at the University of BC's Institute of Social Justice, says the INC has encouraged a cult-like veneration of its leader.
"Observers of the church might say it has some cult-like characteristics ... you also have a very authoritarian leadership. What the inner circle dictates, everyone must follow."
Church lawyer Rommel V. San Pedro denies the INC is a cult.
"To label an organization as a cult is unfair. Why do we say we're the one true church? Our teachings ... every single doctrine can be found in the Bible."
Church has 'vast influence': expert
CBC News also sought out an expert on the INC in the Philippines.
Ramon Casiple, executive director of the independent nonprofit Institute for Political and Electoral Reform, has studied the church's influence on its members and on Philippine politics.
He says he doesn't discount the possibility the church's leadership has come down "swiftly and hard on whom they thought were the propagators of those stories" alleging corruption and lavish spending by the INC's leaders.
"There is a definite division," he says, referring to the split within the church, "But we don't know how far the division is going because the church is basically secretive and that's one of the basic tenets — that they don't go public on anything internal," says Casiple.
This is Iglesia Ni Cristo church in Burnaby, B.C., is one of hundreds around the world. (CBC)
He believes the fears of Menorca and other alleged INC church members who have been expelled are "well founded because of the vast influence of the church on the politicians here, and on the military and police and even local officials."
Menorca has claimed to Canada's Immigration and Refugee Board that he's not safe in the Philippines, because he alleges police and government officials are often INC members, or heavily influenced by the church, since the INC encourages its parishioners to "block vote" — delivering key votes in tight races.
That gives the small church a large influence, according to his refugee claim.
Menorca hopes the Canadian government will take all of this into account, when the Immigration and Refugee Board hears his application for refugee status.
Through tears, he remembered how he was treated here, when he arrived at Vancouver airport.
"The officer told me, 'You came to the right country.' I just felt some kind of relief, that hopefully this country will protect people like me, can protect my family, my wife and my daughter."
"I'm hoping that Canada can be a safe refuge for people who have been oppressed, by a church of all things."
The Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada will rule on the validity of Menorca's claims and allegations, later this summer.
Hello again friends… for this part of the expose, I thought I’d share
yet another set of INC-owned properties that have been used as
collateral. This time, they are residential properties.
I share this is for the benefit of brethren who have been provided
housing by INC but who may need to find another place to live should the
worst happen – INC defaults in its repayment obligations to Metrobank
and AUB. I refer to the same MULTI-BILLION BANK LOANSI mentioned in Part 1 of my expose. )
If you recall, I said the loans INC obtained from Metrobank and AUB weresecured by hundreds of INC properties.
I wasn’t kidding. Among them were residential properties which I will
cover in this article. Needless to say, all properties our esteemed
leaders used as collateral, including residential, commercial, church
sites, and agricultural lands, were bought with members’ hard-earned abuloy.
Presenting… The Central Condominium Towers (formerly LIG Condominium)
This is the first of its kind of acquisition made by the
Church. It was initially built for commercial purposes by a company
owned by Ja Hoon Ku, a Korean businessman who is also a contractor to
the world-renowned Philippine Arena. The condominium is a tad “pricey”
at the time, given its location. This explains why it was difficult to
sell the units – only a few could afford it. But because of the “strong
ties” between Mr. Ja Hoon Ku and Bro. Glicerio “JS” Santos Jr., the
Church bought the condominium complex. This came as a shock for a lot of
brethren because we could have easily saved a lot of money by building
condominium housing for Ministers and Church workers ourselves, the way
it has always been.
You may be wondering why the name Ja Hoon Ku sounds
familiar. It should. He’s none other than the notorious multimillion
Korean embezzler who was ordered to be deported back to his country.
Fortunately for him, his “strong ties” with Bro. Jun Santos paid off.
After learning of the controversial INC acquisition,
Ministers promptly paid Bro. Jun Santos a visit for the privilege of
being handpicked to be residents of this luxury condominium complex
which, by the way, is complete with a gym and a swimming pool. Most of
the “favored ones” got selected, the ones who cheerfully and
unquestioningly do the bidding of the Sanggunian.
The Administration didn’t really have a solid plan for
LIG. At one point, it was used as a dormitory for NEU. Offices of INC’s
“covert” group ACTIV can be found there as well as the UNLAD
manufacturing arm of INC. Bro. Matt Pareja’s Loft is also located on
the 17th floor penthouse. Bro. Angelo Manalo’s playground can be found
on the whole penthouse floor at the other buildings with round-the-clock
centralized air-conditioning.
So let’s a take a look at a couple of the encumbered condo
units. We won’t be able to show all of them. A total of 317 units were
used as collateral! However, feel free to visit your local Registry of
Deeds and request a certified true copy of whatever CCT you are
interested in.
Toward the end of this article, there is a link to a schedule that
identifies the condo units that were used as collateral, along with
corresponding CCT’s, area in square meters, and appraised value of each
property. If you live in this complex, I’m sure you’d be interested in
that schedule.
http://ligcondominiumquezoncity.blogspot.com/
Here’s page 1: