INC leaders tagged in abduction, detainment of ex-minister

​MANILA - Former Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) minister Lowell Menorca II on Sunday accused INC officials of masterminding his alleged abduction and illegal detainment in the religious sect's central compound in Quezon City.

"I think the Sanggunian and the rest of the church can probably forgive me if I have lost any trust in those ministers who were responsible for our kidnapping," Menorca tearfully said at a press conference with wife Jinky Otsuka and his lawyer.

The former INC official said he was abducted by policemen and armed civilians after a church service service in Bulan, Sorsogon in July 16.

"They kidnapped me there in Sorsogon. That was the most hurting part of my life because I was separated from my wife, from my daughter. I wasn't even given the chance to say goodbye," Menorca claimed.

"I was dragged by police officers, many civilians and men with long rifles and handguns. They surrounded our chapel just to be able to kidnap me. That was witnessed by a lot of people."

Atty. Trixie Cruz-Angeles, who represents Menorca, said Saturday that the former INC minister was subjected to interrogation, threats and torture by the influential church as it held his family captive from July 25 to October 21, 2015.

At the press conference on Sunday, Menorca reiterated his statement in a video posted Friday that he had been illegally detained in the compound.

Menorca also denied that he voluntarily went to the INC compound after being incarcerated in Cavite and seeking protective custody from INC executive minister Eduardo Manalo.

"Even during the time I was delivered there in Central [compound], it was July 25, fresh from incarceration in the Dasmariñas jail, we were brought there and I specifically said in the video, that I never requested, I never requested to be brought there," Menorca insisted.

"I never requested for a residence from Ka Eduardo. I never requested for protective custody. But for obedience for Ka Eduardo and his instructions, well, at least I thought it were his instructions at the time -- we followed, we stayed there, we remained quiet."

Dare vs INC Sanggunian

Menorca claimed that several members of the INC Sanggunian plotted his abduction after suspecting him of using the pen name "Antonio Evangelista" to exposed alleged anomalies in the church through an online blog.

The former INC minister also challenged the sect leaders to stop "hiding" behind Manalo and the administration.

"If the people in Sanggunian, if the people who did this to us, have nothing to hide, then don't. Don't hide behind Ka Eduardo. Don't behind the church administration and the so-called positions you have and don't behind the brethren," Menorca said.

Menorca went on to say that the INC should not urge its faithful to troop to the streets and protest against him.

He added that sect should not invoke the principle of the separation of church and state only when it serves their cause.

"Please don't call the brethren and go to the streets again. You've done so much humiliation for the church already. You cry out for separation of church and state yet you know if it's beneficial to you, you would easily go beyond that border. But if it's against you, you cry out like a baby and say that, 'No, it's separation of church and state,'" Menorca demanded.

"Don't force the people, don't force the brethren, don't call out to the district ministers and the local ministers and tell them to gather as many brethren as you can and take them to EDSA because that is what you did."

A complaint for serious illegal detention had been earlier filed with the Department of Justice (DOJ) by former INC minister Isaias Samson against INC Sanggunian members. The filing of the case led to a series of protest actions staged by the sect against the DOJ at the department's main office in Padre Faura and on EDSA.

Writs of habeas corpus, amparo for Menorca

The Supreme Court (SC) on Friday issued writs of habeas corpus and amparo in favor of Menorca.

Lowell's brother, Anthony Menorca, and sister-in-law, Jungko Otsuka, filed the petition for the issuance of these writs, claiming that Lowell was abducted and illegally detained upon the orders of key officials of the religious sect.

A writ of habeas corpus is a remedy sought on behalf of any person who is imprisoned or restrained of his liberty. A writ of amparo is a remedy available to any person whose right to life, liberty and security is violated or threatened.

The brother and sister-in-law of Menorca had urged the Supreme Court last Tuesday to order top officials of the INC to produce the warm body of Menorca and release him from his so-called detention.

They alleged that Lowell was abducted by "armed men" last July 16 right after hearing a service at the INC house of worship in Bulan, Sorgoson.

Lowell, however, surfaced in July to debunk the allegation that he and his family were abducted and detained against their will.

Source:

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/10/25/15/inc-leaders-tagged-abduction-detainment-ex-minister