Palace assures peace and order at INC headquarters

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang assured on Friday that the government will maintain peace and order at the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) headquarters in Quezon City amid the crisis within the religious organization.

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the Philippine National Police (PNP) is monitoring the security situation.

"Reports about events that have transpired involving INC officials indicate an apparent internal organizational dispute," Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a text message.

"Be that as it may, the PNP's Quezon City police district (QCPD) office and Anti-Kidnapping Group have been deployed to assess the situation to ensure the safety of all concerned and that peace and order is maintained," he added.

On Thursday, the INC leadership expelled the brother of the executive minister Eduardo Manalo, Felix Nathaniel "Angel" Manalo, and their mother Christina "Tenny" Manalo "for creating divisions in the church."

Angel and Tenny Manalo were expelled after making a public appeal for help, claiming harassment and kidnapping of some ministers.

In a video uploaded on YouTube on Wednesday night, Angel called on his brethren to help them as their lives were supposedly in danger.

On Friday, Angel also made allegations regarding the purported corruption in the INC as he questioned the construction of the Philippine Arena in Bulacan.

The INC leadership refuted the abduction claims, saying Angel and Tenny were only trying to get sympathy in order to get what they want, which is control of the religious institution.

QCPD chief Senior Superintendent Joel Pagdilao had also denied that Angel and Tenny were being held hostage inside their house in Tandang Sora, Quezon City.

Several supporters of the expelled INC members have gathered outside the house, which is the residence of the Manalo matriarch.