An aerial shot from the helicopter of the Metro Manila Development Authority shows the monstrous traffic jam at the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) as vehicles bound for the 101st anniversary celebration of the Iglesia ni Cristo occupy almost the entire northbound portion of the expressway. (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) – The petitions for amparo and habeas corpus against Iglesia ni Cristo leader Eduardo Manalo and other officials of the religious group has been raffled to the Seventh Division of the Court of Appeals.
CA clerk of court Teresita Marigomen on Monday told reporters that the CA division is chaired by Associate Justices Magdangal de Leon, with members Elihu Ybanez and Associate Justices Victoria Isabel Paredes, who is the ponente.
The petition, filed by Anthony Menorca and Jungko Otsuka with the Supreme Court last week, was transferred to the appeals court for hearing and resolution.
The hearing will be held at the CA main office in Manila on November 3 at 10 a.m.
Manalo was ordered to bring to the CA hearing Anthony’s brother alleged victim Lowell Menorca and his wife, Jungko’s twin sister Jinky Otsuka.
The SC had directed the CA to decide on the case within 10 days after its submission for decision.
Menorca and his family have since been ‘rescued’ from the alleged detention, a lawyer said on Friday.
In their petition, Jungko and Anthony asked the SC to issue writs of amparo and habeas corpus against Manalo, Radel Cortez, Bienvenido Santiago, and Rolando Esguerra.
A writ of amparo is a remedy available to any person whose right to life, liberty, and security is violated or threatened with violation by an unlawful act or omission.
A habeas corpus plea, meanwhile, is a legal action that gives a person the right to seek relief from unlawful detention. It serves as an instrument for safeguarding individual freedom against arbitrary government action.
Anthony and Jungko both claimed that Lowell and Jinky, their daughter, and their househelp Abbegail Yanson were being held by the church against their will.
In a news conference over the weekend, Menorca recalled the details of his abduction. He said that a previous interview in which he denied being abducted was all for show.(MNS)