‘Expel INC council, not Manalo kin’

MANILA, Philippines - Supporters of the expelled leaders of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) called on church leaders to oust the members of the Sanggunian or advisory council for allegedly manipulating the group’s executive minister, Eduardo Manalo.

According to a report of Rappler.com, former INC minister Roel Rosal, who was himself expelled after revealing alleged corruption within the group, assailed the Sanggunian for harassing the Manalo family and influencing the INC leader. He also called on Eduardo not to be swayed by his advisers.

“Kung siya lang ang magpapasya, hindi niya ipapasya na itiwalag ang kanyang pamilya (If he alone will decide, he will not expel his family),” he said.

Rosal urged other INC members to send aid in protest of what they considered persecution against the family.

“We’re not creating chaos. We just want due process to free this family. We’re here out of love for them, and out of love for the church being tainted by the council,” he said in Filipino.

Rosal said the supporters want to ensure that the Manalo family won’t be forced out of their residence.

The INC expelled last Thursday the executive minister’s mother Cristina “Tenny” Villanueva Manalo and his brother Felix Nathaniel or Angel for allegedly sowing disunity in the organization.

Tenny and Angel appeared in a YouTube video Wednesday night and said that their lives were in danger. Also expelled were the executive minister’s other siblings, Marco Eraño Manalo and Lolita “Lottie” Manalo Hemedez.