Criminal charges to be filed against Iglesia ni Cristo leaders

Criminal charges will be filed against Iglesia ni Cristo leaders by former minister Lowell Menorca, who said his family was taken against their will.

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Former Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) minister Lowell Menorca II, who has been expelled by INC, will file criminal charges against the leaders of the religious group.

In a press conference on Sunday (October 25) Menorca claimed that INC officials held him and his family captive for at least three months.

And for this, Menorca's lawyer Atty. Trixie Angeles said they will soon file illegal detention and grave coercion charges against those they claimed were responsible.

Allegations of illegal detention, torture

Menorca claimed that he was forcefully taken from his church in Sorsogon by armed men back in July, as he was suspected of creating a blog under the pseudonym "Antonio Ebangelista" that exposes supposed anomalies in the INC.

The former minister alleged that he was tortured, threatened, and interrogated by INC members before he and his family were held captive in an apartment in the INC's Central Compound in Quezon City.

Menorca said that he and his wife Jinky, their one year old child, and their househelp were placed under house arrest for unclear reasons.

According to Menorca, he could only leave the compound "heavily guarded" on certain occasions, such as when he would deliver "scripted interviews" to show that he was doing okay.

The Menorca family were supposedly rescued by a law enforcement agency on October 21.

Petition for writs of amparo, habeas corpus

Menorca's younger brother, Anthony, and Jinky's twin sister, Jungko, filed petition for writs of amparo and habeas corpus, which the Supreme Court (SC) granted.

Angeles said that with the SC granting the petition for the writs, the high court acknowledged that the Menorcas were taken against their will and needed protection.

Menorca refused to name the members of the INC's Sanggunian who were allegedly behind his illegal detention. But he vowed to soon reveal everything in court.

Menorca hopes his legal action will embolden other INC members to also speak out.

INC surprised, saddened

In a statement, the INC said its officials are surprised and saddened by the recent turn of events and by the statements of Menorca.

INC's legal counsel Atty. Patricia-Ann Prodigalidad said the INC will face the allegations of its former minister at the proper venue.

"They will address the allegations of Mr. Menorca in the proper venue, and are confident that if treated fairly by authorities, they will be given due process and the opportunity to establish their innocence and to clear their names."

CNN Philippines' Paola Palma contributed to this report

Source:

http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2015/10/25/lowell-menorca-to-file-criminal-charges-illegal-detention-grave-coercion-against-iglesia-ni-cristo-leaders.html