Disgruntled Iglesia Ni Cristo members block the decoy vehicle of Secretary Leila de Lima at the Department of Justice on Thursday. Members of Iglesia ni Cristo accused De Lima of interfering with INC affairs, including an ongoing investigation on the illegal detention case filed against its leaders. (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) -– Interior Secretary Mar Roxas on Tuesday said rumors of an impending arrest of Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo may have ignited the 5-day protest actions of members of the indigenous Christian group.
Roxas said the meeting between government officials and the INC leadership sought to clarify issues that triggered the protests.
”Ang nangyari nagkaroon ng paliwanagan at nilinaw ng pamahalan na hindi pinupuntirya ang Iglesia Ni Cristo. Hindi special treatment for or against; na dumadaan lang ito sa proseso,” Roxas said.
Roxas said one of the possible reasons that sparked the outcry among INC faithful was the rumor that Manalo would be arrested over an illegal detention case filed by expelled minister Isaias Samson Jr.
”May kumakalat kasi na aarestuhin ang pangkalahatang tagapangasiwang Ka Eduardo Manalo. Wala pong ganon. Ipinaliwanag na walang ganoon,” he said.
Roxas also denied that the government and the INC leadership struck a ”deal”, which was questioned by Samson’s counsels who fear of a whitewash in the case.
”The fear now is that given the so-called agreement, a finding of ‘no probable cause’ to make this nightmare go away for the INC’s Sanggunian is a very real possibility. And your silence is not helping,” Samson’s lawyers said in a statement addressed to President Aquino and Roxas.
Samson’s lawyers called for transparency from government with respect to the so-called agreement.
”A criminal case is not a political pawn. The law provides that it cannot be compromised. The president can grant pardons and issue clemency and amnesty. But you do not have the power to refuse prosecution,” they said.
Roxas said there is no truth to allegations that the INC demanded for the resignation of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, who was accused by INC of giving “extraordinary attention” to the case filed by Samson and his family.
De Lima has hinted that she will run for the Senate in 2016. She is thus required to quit her post once she files her certificate of candidacy.
The internal squabble in the INC spilled into the streets after Samson and his family filed their complaint before the Department of Justice (DOJ).