DOJ summons 8 INC leaders over criminal complaint

MANILA, Philippines - Eight officials of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) were summoned to appear today at 2 p.m. before the Department of Justice (DOJ)  for a preliminary investigation on the criminal complaint filed against them by expelled minister Isaias Samson Jr. and his family.

Summoned were Sanggunian members Glicero Santos Jr., Radel Cortez, Bienvenido Santiago Sr., Mathusalem Pareja, Rolando Esguerra, Eraño Codera, Rodelio Cabrerra and Maximo Bularan Jr.

They were ordered to answer the charges of harassment, illegal detention, threats and coercion that Samson, his wife Myrna Dionela and son Isaiah filed last August.

The DOJ panel is composed of Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Theodore

Villanueva and assistant state prosecutors.

They received a copy of the subpoena the other day, according to Samson’s lawyer Trixie Cruz-Angeles.

Samson’s family has accused the INC officials of prohibiting them from leaving their house in Quezon City last July after he was accused of being “Antonio Ebanghelista,” the blogger who had been attacking the INC.

Samson, a former editor-in-chief of the INC official publication Pasugo, denied being the blogger.

Last August, INC members held a massive street protest at the DOJ in Manila and later at the corner of EDSA and Shaw Boulevard after Samson and his family filed the complaint and met with then Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.

Meanwhile, the mother of Abegail Yanson, nanny of the daughter of expelled minister Lowell Menorca II, filed a disbarment case against   Angeles before the Supreme Court   yesterday.

Angeles allegedly prevented her from getting near her daughter, whom she had not seen for a long time, according to Rosalie Yanson.

She accused Angeles of committing gross misconduct and violating her oath as a lawyer.

“Complainant was able to force herself and get near Abegail and hugged her,” read the complaint-affidavit of Rosalie filed before the Office of the Bar Confidant.

“At this instance, attorney Trixie Cruz-Angeles, with the Menorcas and the guards, forcibly pulled the complainant away from Abegail and harshly shoved her away from the group.

“It is but imperative that she be disbarred from the Roll of Attorneys. Her actuations and conduct clearly fall short of the high standard of moral and professional character required of lawyers.”

Lawyer Danny Villanueva had provided reporters with copies of the document.

Another legal expert had agreed with the opinion of lawyer Sigfrid Fortun that the cases against the INC leaders are weak.

UP law professor Harry Roque Jr. has expressed alarm at how “unproven cases have sparked bigotry against INC members that reflects religious intolerance that had hitherto been virtually nonexistent” among Filipinos.

“Some INC members have called this bigotry and it’s hard not to agreewith them, given the comments of some netizens online,” he said.

“Many forget that the accused officials are Filipino citizens and are entitled to the same rights you and I enjoy, including the presumption of innocence.

“Their being part of a religious minority does not mean they deserve less in law; on the contrary, because they’re a minority the more they deserve its full protection.”

While justice should be served, “allegations of wrongdoings should not damage an institution that is part of Philippine history and culture,” Roque said.

He cited the INC’s the role in promoting “good morality and civic values among its faithful.”