MANILA, Philippines — The signs that flashed from a window of a building owned by Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) on Thursday were made by children as a joke, the church's leadership said on Friday.
INC spokesperson Edwin Zabala said there was no hostage taking in the Tandang Sora residence of the Manalos, the church's founding family, despite signs claiming some of ministers are missing and they were being held hostage.
Zabala said Felix Nathaniel "Angel" Manalo himself denied on Friday morning that he and his kin were abducted and detained.
"Hindi totoong they were being held against their will. At ang sabi nga po nila na 'yun daw pong mga karatula na 'yon ay ginawa lamang ng isang batang nagbibiro," Zabala said in an interview over dzRH.
"Masamang biro po 'yon... Nakakabulabog," he added.
Zabala said members of the media, cops and even Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista were allowed to enter the premises.
"Pati po si Mayor Herbert naroroon, ang sabi po niya [Angel Manalo] ay hindi totoong siya ay hinohostage, na 'yun daw pong naka-paskil ay ginawa lang ng isang bata na kasama nila sa loob," he said.
Quezon City Police District chief Senior Superintendent Joel Pagdilao similarly denied that some INC members are being held in the expansive property.
READ: QCPD: No hostage taking at Manalo house
The spokesperson, meanwhile, insisted that there is no feud among members of the Manalo family and the religious sect is not divided despite Angel's claims in a video that his family's life is in danger.
"Hindi po nag-away ang pamilya Manalo. Kasi nga po kasama sa pamilya si brother Eduardo, e hindi nga po siya nakikipag-away," Zabala said, referring to Eduardo Manalo, the current executive minister of INC.
He said INC is not run by the Manalo family, problems of whom should not affect the church.
"Nililinaw po sa isang taong aanib sa Iglesia na hindi ito family corporation. Ang Iglesia ay isang relihiyon," Zabala said.