Lacson on Iglesia crisis: Nobody immune from suit
- ABS-CBNnews.com | incdefenders.org
- Oct 27, 2015
- 2 min read
MANILA - Senatorial candidate Panfilo Lacson on Tuesday admitted he is disturbed and hurt by the allegations being hurled against the Iglesia ni Cristo leadership but noted the investigation must continue since no religious sect is immune from suit.
Speaking to ANC's Headstart, Lacson said he has many close friends in the Iglesia ni Cristo hierarchy.
"It not only disturbs me, it hurts to think na...It hurts to see a religious sect so close-knit na parang tendency now is to implode," he said.
Expelled Iglesia ni Cristo minister Lowell Menorca earlier accused members of the INC advisory council of having him kidnapped and detained for allegedly writing a blog that criticized the Iglesia. He said police officers also participated in the alleged kidnapping.
He told reporters that he begged the police officers to loosen the handcuffs since his hands were already bleeding.
Menorca's lawyer, Atty. Trixie Angeles, said among the possible offenses committed by the Iglesia against her client include serious illegal detention, grave coercion and possible attempted murder.
A lawyer for the Iglesia ni Cristo has said the group will answer the allegations in the proper venue.
In the interview, Lacson backed the decision of PNP Director General Ricardo Marquez to investigate the alleged role of police in Menorca's kidnapping.
"Sabi niya, no matter who gets hurt, if there are transgressions of law, those that are involved should be held accountable," he said.
He also said the Department of Justice must continue the investigation on the alleged criminal charges, saying that there are "baseline principles" that he follows.
"Nobody is immune from suit except the President. Kung meron talagang criminal complaints lodged against any religious sect for that matter, hindi pwedeng immune from suit just because you are a member or a leader of a religious sect. No matter if you are as powerful or as influential as the Iglesia ni Cristo."
"Kailangan talaga tignan ng PNP yun. Kailangang tignan ng DOJ and fair is fair. Kung wala namang probable cause, then it cannot get past the preliminary investigation. Kung meron probable cause, let it go to court and let the prosecution establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt."
ANC HEADSTART, October 27, 2015
Source:
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/video/nation/10/27/15/lacson-on-iglesia-crisis-nobody-immune-from-suit
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