INC case is far from over, De Lima says
Justice Secretary Leila de Lima refuted reports Wednesday that the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has already wrapped up its investigation into the alleged abductions of some of the former ministers of the influential Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC).
In an ambush interview, Sec. De Lima said it is still premature to announce that the abduction claim of Cristina “Tenny” Villanueva Manalo and Felix Nathaniel “Angel” Villanueva Manalo, mother and younger brother of INC’s executive minister Eduardo “Erdy” V. Manalo, is without basis.
Tenny and Angel, mother and younger brother of Erdy, earlier claimed that their lives were in danger and that at least 10 INC ministers were abducted.
The mother and son posted a video message on YouTube on Wednesday night appealing for help saying that there were threats to their lives and that some ministers had been taken.
Contrary to the reports of online news media, Sec. De Lima stressed that the investigation in the INC case was far from over, saying that the bureau had been pursuing two angles in the case.
The first angle, she said, was to determine whether or not Tenny and Angel were held hostage inside their residence in Tandang Sora, Quezon City while the other angle was on whether 10 ministers of the INC were abducted or not.
“Even if mayroon nang initial report sa akin ay mayroon pang tinatapos, okay. Since tinatapos pa nga, I don’t think it will be prudent for me to share so far the results. My instruction is bilisan na yan (investigation) para malaman na,” the Justice Secretary said.
She revealed that the NBI has already secured several sworn-statements but didn’t disclose the identities of the persons who executed the document.
De Lima expects to receive an updated report on the INC case next week.
De Lima’s reaction came after Atty. Manny Eduarte, chief of the NBI Anti-Organized Transnational Crime Division (NBI-AOTCD) has already described the alleged INC incident as “case closed,” admitting that they have not found a single evidence to prove the claims.
“Per report of my men, although with due respect to [NBI-National Capital Region] RD (Regional Director) Mike Salvador being the head of this team, reported to us that they were not able to prove the allegation of abduction considering that they were not able to enter the premises of the INC and they tried knocking at the gate, which was locked,” the NBI official said Monday.
They were not given entry so no information was gathered and they were told there’s no such thing such as an abduction inside the premises of the INC,” he added.
Atty. Eduarte said they have already talked to the legal team of the INC, who denied the abduction.
While he deemed that the INC case is already closed, Eduarte, however, quickly pointed out that they are still “in the process of awaiting further information from the grounds.”
Libel charges Meanwhile, it was learned that the INC has filed libel charges anew against another expelled minister of the group yesterday before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office. The expelled member had accused the church and its Church Council members for being involved in various anomalies and alleged abduction of INC ministers.
Charged with two counts of libel was Eliodoro “Joy” A. Yuson Jr., reportedly staying at 36 Tandang Sora, New Era, QC.
Lawyer Serafin Cuevas Jr. filed the two separate cases of libel against Yuson in behalf of his clients, the INC represented by Bienvenido Santiago, Senior Church Officer and General Evangelist and Sanggunian members, Radel Cortez, Ernesto Suratos and Eraño Codera.
In the two complaint-affidavits, Cuevas claimed that Yuson made the malicious remarks in a July 24 radio interview over DZMM that was also aired during the ABS-CBN’s TV Patrol news telecast on the same day.
In his interview, Yuson stated that “Mayroon pong mga balita hanggang ngayon na natatanggap na nawawala si kapatid na Nolan Olarte, si kapatid Joven Sepillo, Jojo Nemis at si Ka Jun dati, ngayon natagpuan na (I have received news that my brother Nolan Olarte is missing. Brother Joven Sepillo, Jojo Nemis and Ka Jun were already located).”
Cuevas said that the respondent’s allegations of kidnapping of said persons and corruption are baseless and fabricated.
The INC had earlier filed the same case against expelled minister, Isaias Samson Jr., who made alleged libelous statements in a press conference at Bayview Hotel, Manila on July 23.