Ex-Iglesia ni Cristo minister Lowell Menorca confirms abduction

Former Iglesia Ni Cristo minister Lowell Menorca on Friday confirmed that he and his family was indeed abducted at the INC Central Compound in Quezon City, adding that his statements in past interviews were all lies supposedly orchestrated by the church leadership.

In a video sent to INQUIRER.net, Menorca said he wanted to reveal the truth once and for all amid the supposed oppression being continuously committed by high-ranking leaders of the influential sect.

“Sa pagkakataong ito nais ko pong gamitin ang videong ito para ihayag ang katotohanan. Marahil nakita n’yo na po akong magsalita sa isang video ng Net 25. Sa pagkakataong ito gusto ko pong sabihin na ‘yun po ay scripted,” Menorca said in the almost five-minute video.

Saying that his past statements were scripted, Menorca disclosed that he was ordered by other INC officials on what to say during interviews.

“Kaya lahat po ng narinig n’yo sa interview na ‘yun at lahat pang mga interview, lahat po ay scripted. Ako po ay nagsalita dahi sa ‘yun po ang pinasabi sa akin dahil sa nanganganib po ako para sa aming kapakanan, sa kapakanan ng aming sambahayan,” he said.

Menorca was earlier identified by Isaias Samson Jr., former editor in chief of Pasugo, INC’s official publication, as allegedly abducted in Sorsogon, taken and detained in Cavite for illegal possession of explosives. He was released by the police on July 26.

In a petition for habeas corpus filed Wednesday, Menorca’s younger brother Anthony, and Jungko Otsuka, twin sister of the ex-minister’s wife Jinky Menorca, asked the Supreme Court to protect their relatives and compel the INC leadership to release them.

Lowell said they were detained at the INC central compound in Quezon City from July 25 to Oct. 21.

“Nais ko rin pong gamitin ang pagkakataong ito na sabihin ang katotohanan tungkol sa illegal detention tungkol sa akin at sa aking sambahayan,” he said.

“Hindi po namin kailanman hiniling sa pamamahala na bigyan kami ng pabahay doon, na kami ay ilagay sa protective custody ng Iglesia Ni Cristo. Kaya po nila ginawa ‘yun sapagkat ginamit nila ang pagkakataon na ‘yun para alisin ako sa kulungan, ilagay ako sa controlled environment, na kung saan maaari nila akong puntahan anytime, kausapin, i-interrogate at makuha nila ‘yung mga impormasyon na gusto nilang makuha mula sa’kin,” he added.

The former minister said they were deprived of the freedom to entertain guests and visitors and to use any electronic gadget.

“Wala kaming kalayaang makaalis o pumunta sa kung saan namin gusto. Wala kaming karapatang tumanggap ng bisita, kailangan pang humingi ng approval, at dumating pa ang pagkakataon na ipinagbawal maging ang pagbisita sa amin. Ang cell phone, camera, at mga gadgets ipinagbawal din. Lahat ng ito ginawa nila sa amin ng labag sa aming kalooban. Kung ito po ay hindi labag sa karapatang pantao, marahil hindi po ako magsasalita sa inyo,” he said.

Admitting that he thought of remaining silent for the sake of the sect’s integrity, Menorca said he decided to speak up because of the continued human rights violations being committed by church leaders.

“Ang totoo po dumating na sa punto na alang-alang na lang sa kapakanan ng Iglesia, nakahanda ako at ang aking buong sambahayan na manahimik para na lang mawala ang isyu na ito. Subalit dahil hindi pa rin sila tumigil sa kanilang ginagawang panggigipit hindi lamang sa akin kundi pati sa maraming mga kapatid sa buong mundo, ito po ang dahilan kung bakit nagkusa na po akong magsalita para maihayag na ang katotohanan,” he said.

Menorca admitted that he and his family members might be expelled from the church following his revelations, but added that they were ready to face it for the sake of the truth.

He said he would reveal further details regarding the abduction in a press conference next week.

“Ang iba pang detalye tungkol sa naging pagdukot sa amin ay ihahayag po namin sa proper forum. Magkakaroon po ng press conference kung saan ibibigay ko po ang lahat ng detalye. Nababatid ko po na pagkatapos kong magsalita ngayon ay ipatitiwalag kami ng Iglesia, isang bagay na napakabigat sa amin, napakasakit sa damdamin. Subalit handa kaming tanggapin ito alang-alang sa paninindigan sa katotohanan,” Menorca said. Yuji Vincent Gonzales/RC

Source:

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/734041/ex-iglesia-ni-cristo-minister-lowell-menorca-confirms-abduction