‘Cops securing threatened INC officials, not compound’

MANILA, Philippines - The policemen inside the Iglesia ni Cristo compound in Tandang Sora, Quezon City are securing INC officials whose lives are under threat and not securing the compound, a police official said yesterday.

The police official, who asked not to be named, made the clarification in reaction to a call by a military officer for the Philippine National Police to recall the PNP contingent deployed as security in the INC compound.

But the police official said the INC officials availed themselves of all documentary requirements like the processing of their application forms at the Police Security and Protection Group to have a police escort assigned to them.

“The policemen assigned at the INC headquarters are armed with documentary requirement like the threat on their lives. Only the chief of PNP had the sole authority to authorize their assignment there,” the police official told The STAR.

“There is nothing irregular about the police escorts of the INC officials because like any other Filipino citizen, they are entitled to such protection, especially if their lives are under threat,” the police official added.

The police official admitted that many police escorts were assigned to secure INC officials, but “the figure would not reach 100 policemen.” These police escorts are armed with service firearms provided to them by the PNP.

The military officer earlier said, “The number of uniformed personnel deployed on rotation basis inside the INC compound increased to around 100 through the years. It’s a legalized private army in there.”

The military officer, who also requested anonymity, said the INC started employing the security services of uniformed personnel during the Marcos regime. The defunct Philippine Constabulary granted the INC’s request to put up a command post inside the INC compound.

Quezon City Department of Public Order and Safety Chief Gen. Elmo San Diego cautioned against making hasty conclusions about the alleged existence of armed groups without concrete proof.

 “What do you think the reaction would be if someone says the government tolerates the presence of armed groups in your community? It creates undue fear and tension, and reduces confidence in our police and other law enforcement agencies. Let’s not unduly scare the public,” he added.

The PNP also challenged expelled INC minister Lowell Menorca II to produce evidence against members of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) whom he accused of kidnapping and harassing him several months ago.

PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor said allegations of Menorca against the policemen, as published in the newspapers, would not stand in a court of law that requires concrete evidence. The PNP is also yet to receive a formal complaint from Menorca.

“This is our request. Let us go to the proper forum because there is a process in the conduct of investigation under the law. And that is you file a complaint before the proper forum,” Mayor said.

Menorca earlier said he and his family were kidnapped in Bulan, Sorsogon by members of the QCPD on July 17 after a church service.

He said during the arrest, the policemen told him to lie face down after which he was handcuffed for 17 hours as he pleaded and begged for his life.

A grenade was tossed into a vehicle while he was in it but failed to explode, he added.

He said the INC leadership wanted to get information from him about a certain Antonio Ebangelista, the blogger who started to expose several anomalies in the INC.

PNP chief Director General Ricardo Marquez ordered an investigation into the alleged involvement of policemen in the INC mess.

INC spokesperson Edwil Zabala yesterday called on the INC members to remain calm and continue praying.

“Rest assured that the Church leadership will face all the issues with dignity and with full confidence in the fairness of our justice system,” he said.