Ex-Iglesia ni Cristo minister says armed men stood guard during his ‘illegal detention’

The compound where Isaias Samson Jr. was allegedly illegally detained by the Iglesia ni Cristo hierarchy was guarded by men with high-powered guns, he said in a television interview Friday. Samson said the compound, where mostly ministers and their families lived, had always had guards. He, however, said that days after he was put on "house arrest" by the leadership, more guards arrived. "I was placed under what they called house arrest which is literally illegal detention," Samson told CNN Philippines on Friday night. "Oh, yes. Of course, there were," he said when asked to confirm the presence of armed guards. "They added guards from the central office with long arms... high-powered [guns]." Samson said that he was told not to leave the house. He was not allowed access to his mobile phone and was not allowed to receive visitors, he added. Samson has filed an illegal detention complaint against members of the Iglesia ni Cristo's Sanggunian, sparking protests from Aug. 27 to 31 by thousands of members of the church who said Justice Secretary Leila De Lima's action on the complaint violates the separation of church and state. But Iglesia ni Cristo spokesperson Edwil Zabala, in a telephone interview on the same show, said the alleged illegal detention was a disciplinary measure within the church. "Ang ipinataw na pag-disiplina noong siya po ay naiulat sa pamamahala na nakikipagsabwatan sa mga kaaway ng Iglesia... iyon po ay preventive suspension," he said, adding that it was an order to "make [himself] available." Samson had been accused of running a blog critical of the Iglesia ni Cristo and that alleges irregularities in church finances. Samson has denied that he was behind the blog but added that he had read it and that there are "evidence, receipts, names" in the blog that church leaders should address. He said that while the disciplinary action limited a person's movement, it was only in the sense that a minister under preventive suspension cannot officiate at Iglesia ni Cristo ceremonies anymore. Samson, however, said that he had been put on preventive suspension in the past but was given freedom of movement and was even allowed to officiate at some activities in the provinces. He said that although the Iglesia ni Cristo had rules on preventive suspension, his house arrest was a different case. "Walang nakasulat doon na hindi ka puwede mag-grocery. Walang nakasulat doon na hindi puwede magpatingin sa doktor," Samson said. He said that his wife, who had had a pacemaker implanted, had not been allowed to undergo a medical checkup. 'Separation of Church and State' Zabala said that De Lima's action on Samson's complaint was irregular, which was what brought thousands of Iglesia members to EDSA. "Kung nasa proseso, wala kayong maririnig sa amin," Zabala said. He added that the Iglesia ni Cristo did not "endorse" candidates, and tried to keep decisions on whom to support in elections within the church so as not to give the impression that it did endorse candidates. Zabala was also silent on the details of the meeting between government and Iglesia ni Cristo officials that led to the end of the five-day protest. "Kung and administrasyon, sa pamamagitan ni Secretary Coloma, ay hindi nagsasalita [tungkol sa detalye], pangit naman po na kami ay magsasalita," Zabala said, adding the Iglesia did not claim that deal was made during the dialogue. "Ang natitiyak namin ay naiparinig namin sa administrasyon ang aming posisyon... ang aming hinaing mula sa simula ng gusot na ito," Zabala added. Samson, meanwhile, said speaking on the details of the meeting would have allowed members "understand there was no deal." —Jonathan De Santos/NB, GMA News

Source:

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/535678/news/nation/ex-iglesia-ni-cristo-minister-says-armed-men-stood-guard-during-his-illegal-detention