Did the government bow to the Iglesia?
The best evidence that this administration is not really following the straight and narrow path it euphemistically calls '' DAANG MATUWID'' is that it opted not to enforce the law against the INC protesters who caused grave public disturbance for no less than four days in EDSA, which is the nation's number one thoroughfare, and where millions of Filipinos pass every day. The rule of law calls for investigation whenever there is a complaint filed against anyone. The INC applied people power to stop the normal course of a DOJ legal investigation. That would be clearly obstruction of justice. But then again, it is the Iglesia. And this administration is not strong enough to stand up to it.
A top official of the Iglesia Ni Kristo, in a tune of victory, announced last Monday that the government and the leadership of the INC have already talked and have arrived at an agreement. Thus, the Iglesia has decided to end their mass action in EDSA and all over the different regional centers nationwide that lasted for no less than four days, it having commenced on Thursday and ended on Monday. There was jubilation among them. The big question is: What were the terms and conditions that the government and the INC agreed on? Don't we have the right to know? Isn't this a matter of public interest? Has government succumbed to the pressures of this influential church? There is a mysterious and suspicious silence from the Palace.
Let us always remember that it all started when one of its former pastors filed a formal complaint against individual leaders of the Iglesia. And, as provided by law, and following standard operating procedures, the Department of Justice started the steps towards the conduct of a formal investigation in order to determine whether there is a prima-facie evidence to warrant the filing of criminal charges of illegal detention, and whatever felonies as may be warranted by evidence. Instead, of submitting to the standard due-process, the INC staged the protests and demonstrations. This is a very dangerous precedent. If the INC can do it, why not any other sect and NGO?
The Secretary of Justice, when asked to comment, declared that her office was only trying to apply the law, and that the complaint was treated just like any other complaint filed with the DOJ. Not contented with demonstrating in front of the DOJ building in Manila, the Iglesia went to EDSA, and using a Mandaluyong City permit, occupied a major portion of Shaw and EDSA, thereby exacerbating the horrendous traffic problem in that major highway. If that happened in Singapore, or in Taipeh, the demonstrators would all be rounded up, booked for public disturbance or charged with illegal assembly. But this is the Philippines, and there is more fun even in violating the law.
In their placards and public statements, the INC members insist that the government should respect the separation between the State and the Church. And yet, by using people power to stop an investigation, in effect, they want to impose their way on the government on how to administer justice. Also, it is well-known nationwide that the INC actively supports their favored candidates in past elections. Is this faithful to the tenets of separation, when a particular church takes a partisan side every electoral exercise? If the INC wants respect from the government, it must also learn to respect government processes.
I have nothing against the INC. All my brothers-in-law are INC members. I have stood as a wedding sponsor in INC marriages. I know of many good INC members. I admire their discipline and unity. But on this issue, I have to say that both the Iglesia and the government have a lot of explaining to the people. It took me many hours to navigate along EDSA because of the worsened traffic there. I missed many appointments and made a lot of people wait in functions that had to be cancelled. And as a citizen, I have a legitimate grievance. And I am not alone. Like the INC members, I also have a right.
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