INC hits De Lima for 'meddling' with illegal detention case
MANILA, Philippines - Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) on Wednesday questioned the motive of Justice Secretary Leila De Lima for meddling with the illegal detention case filed against its ministers.
Expelled minister Isaias Samson Jr. filed an illegal detention case against eight members of INC's Sanggunian, claiming that he and his family were placed under house arrest.
INC General Evangelist Bienvenido Santiago denied Samson's claims and accused him of lying to divide the religious organization.
"Ang pagsusulong ng reklamong inihain ni Samson ay napag-alaman namin na nagawa sa ilalim ng pamamatnubay ni Secretary Leila De Lima sapagkat labis at hindi pangkaraniwan 'yong atensyon na iniukol niya. Ano kaya ang motibo niya?" Santiago said during a press conference last Wednesday.
Santiago added that De Lima herself was giving too much attention to the INC case and suggested that she focus on the case of the 44 Special Action Force commandos who were killed during the Mamasapano incident last January.
READ: DOJ orders probe on alleged abductions in INC
"Ang tanong, bakit hindi binigyan ng atensyon ng DOJ (Department of Justice) ang kaso ng 44 na sundalong napatay sa Mamasapano na kasing-tindi nung ibinibigay nila sa mga taong naghain ng reklamo sa tanggapan nila kahapon," the INC official said.
The INC official noted that they have received reports that the DOJ is protecting other expelled members of the religious group.
"Gusto naming paratingin kay Sec. De Lima at sa kung sino man ang nag-uutos sa kanya na hinihiling namin ngayon, hinihiling ng Iglesia ni Cristo, sa ngalan ng mga naulila ng dalawang sundalong nasawi sa Mamasapano na mga kapatid namin sa Iglesia na pag-ukulan niya ng kasing-sigasigna pag-asikaso ang kaso ng Fallen 44," Santiago said.
Santiago added that the DOJ should be fair and objective in dealing with both cases as justice is expected from the agency.
On the other hand, Malacañang earlier said that the government is authorized to investigate the alleged abduction of INC ministers.
Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. cited that it is the mandate of the DOJ to investigate reports of violation of the country's laws.
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