Supporters of expelled INC members fear for safety

MANILA, Philippines - Supporters of expelled members of Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) fear for their lives after receiving threats allegedly from the religious sect’s spokesman Edwil Zabala, a source in the midst of the weeklong stakeout said yesterday.

The source inside the residential compound of the late INC executive minister Eraño Manalo in Tandang Sora Avenue in Quezon City bared that supporters of expelled INC members Angel Manalo and Tenny Manalo, brother and mother of current INC executive minister Eduardo Manalo, want to hold vigil in front of the compound but are being prevented by Zabala.

Angel appeared before the media on Friday to call on INC members to hold vigil outside the Manalo compound and join them in defending the INC against corruption, kidnapping of 10 ministers and doctrinal errors by advisers of the executive minister.

But their supporters failed to muster large numbers as they are allegedly being harassed by Zabala.

“Last time, Ka Edwil Zabala had taken our names and drove us away. He threatened all of us who were conducting vigil that we would be expelled and shot by snipers,” the source told The STAR in Filipino.

 Zabala also allegedly threatened to sue the supporters of Angel and Tenny with illegal obstruction should they appear again at the Manalo compound, the source added.

“They will try everything to bury those who stand by faith to terminate their wrongdoings in the church,” the source said.  

 The source has been inside the Manalo compound since Sunday and does not want to go out because the source is also a target of Zabala.

The STAR tried to reach Zabala for comment. He has not yet issued a statement about the allegations against him.

Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has not yet officially closed its probe on the alleged snatching of 10 ministers of INC, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima clarified yesterday.

De Lima said the NBI has not yet terminated the investigation, contrary to recent reports quoting Manuel Eduarte, chief of the NBI Anti-Organized Transnational Crime Division. Eduarte said earlier this week that the allegation of abduction was not proven.

“It’s not case closed yet because even if there is already an initial report submitted to me, they (NBI probers) are still pursuing some leads,” De Lima told reporters in an ambush interview.

She confirmed that several statements were gathered but refused to reveal details of the initial report. She also said the NBI is set to submit to her an updated report within the week.

 “Although we are focusing on the issue of the alleged abductions, we are also looking into the situation of Ka Angel Manalo inside their house because there are speculations on why they are holding out in there. Are they detained? What is that all about?” De Lima said.

De Lima said the NBI agents were able to access the INC headquarters and coordinate with the legal office in Commonwealth Avenue, but were not able to access the Manalo compound.

The supposed kidnapping of INC ministers was claimed by the expelled ministers of the church, including Isaias Samson, former editor of INC’s official magazine Pasugo.

Samson claimed in a press conference last week that their Sanggunian detained him and his family in their house in Quezon City over allegations that he had been posting blogs on social media exposing corruption in the INC.

Among the issues he raised was the alleged overpricing of rice that INC distributed during their Lingap charity program. He said each sack of rice was overpriced by P200 to P250.