Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) denied any involvement in the arrest of its former minister Lowell Menorca II.
In a press conference on Wednesday (January 20), INC spokesperson Edwil Zabala said the religious group was also caught by surprise when news broke about Menorca’s arrest.
Menorca was arrested Wednesday morning while on his way to the Court of Appeals (CA) for a hearing on writs of Amparo and habeas corpus he filed against the religious sect.
Related: Authorities arrest ex-INC minister Lowell Menorca II for libel
Zabala said INC should not be dragged into the issue.
“Ang nagserve ng warrant ay hindi naman kami, hindi ang organisasyon ng Iglesia ni Cristo. Ang nagserve ng warrant ay mga kinatawan ng kapulisan at ang pagseserve nila, sila ang may control kung saan at kelan, wala kaming kinalaman doon,” Zabala said.
[Translation: We were not the ones who served the warrant. Not the Iglesia ni Cristo. The ones who served the warrant were the police, and only they have the power and control when to conduct the arrest. We were not involved in that.]
He explained that the ones who filed the case against Menorca were members of the INC.
Based on the information INC has gathered so far, Zabala said the complainants are part of the Society of Communicators and Networkers (SCAN) International who were offended by Menorca’s previous allegations that the group is involved in illegal activities.
SCAN International is a committee of INC members who serve the church as first responders during natural disasters.
Zabala said the church did not persuade the complainants to file a libel case against Menorca, and that members need not ask for permission from the church if they want to file a case against a non-member.
He also rejected Menorca’s claim that the INC had him arrested hours before he was set to appeal before the CA because the church was trying to avoid the hearing before the appellate court.
“Nagbigay siya ng alegasyon, sana magabang ang publiko–nasan na yung proof niya? Kung tumatagal ang panahon, na walang linalabas na proof, ay mahahalata din ng publiko–mayaman lang sa alegasyon pero zero pagdating sa proof,” Zabala said.
[Translation: He is alleging that we are behind his arrest, but where is his proof? The longer he puts up this act, when he is not backing up his claims, the public will take notice. He is full of allegations against INC but he does not have any proof.]
