DOJ forms panel to probe Iglesia ni Cristo leaders

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has formed a panel to probe some leaders of the Iglesia ni Cristo accused of illegally detaining and threatening former minister Isaias Samson and his family. In an interview on Monday, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Prosecutor General Claro Arellano, head of the DOJ's prosecution arm, had confirmed to her the formation of the panel. She, however, did not give details as regards the membership of the panel. "Mag-uusap po kami ni PG kasi may marami rin po akong ibibilin sa kanya. Marami akong aalamin. Aalamin ko iyong timetable ng pag-dispose ng mga iba't ibang kaso [including the INC case]," she said. De Lima also denied rumors that the government might go soft on the INC once she leaves the DOJ on October 12 when she registers for the May 2016 senatorial elections. "Saan na naman narinig iyon? There's no such thing," she said. "What I said before is dadaan sa tamang proseso, sa regular proseso. Wala akong makitang dahilan na magdi-deviate po ang DOJ from the regular process," she said. Samson and his family were earlier expelled from Iglesia ni Cristo for his refusal to submit to the authority of the church after he was accused of running a blog critical of the church leadership. The former minister claimed he was illegally detained by the church's Sanggunian. He also claimed the church's general auditor, Glicerio Santos Jr. was involved in corruption. Samson eventually charged the Iglesia ni Cristo officials with illegal detention, coercion and grave threat. Samson's complaints and the DOJ's impending investigation triggered the Iglesia ni Cristo's massive protests in front of the DOJ compound in Manila and at EDSA-Shaw and EDSA-Ortigas last August. The Iglesia ni Cristo claimed that the government was interfering with the group's doctrines in the discipline of its members. The group hit the government for allegedly violating the separation of Church and State. The rallies dispersed after Iglesia ni Cristo leaders met with Palace officials. —NB, GMA News

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http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/539735/news/metro/doj-forms-panel-to-probe-iglesia-ni-cristo-leaders