INC ex-minister claims being offered to leave country

MANILA, Philippines  — An expelled minister of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) claimed that some members of the religious sect asked him to leave the country.

Expelled INC minister Lowell Menorca was arrested for libel earlier this week while on his way to a hearing in the Court of Appeals for the petitions of writs of habeas corpus and amparo that he filed against the organization.

Menorca claimed that the case filed against him was a way to intimidate and harass him.

WATCH: INC ex-minister arrested on the way to court

"We have two options—either we go along with their plan kasi to the point tinanong na ako,'Saang bansa mo gusto pumunta?' Sabi ko, 'Pwede pong Canada, pwedeng Japan,'" Menorca said in an interview with ABS-CBN News.

The former INC minister added that he was told that an application for visa was submitted for him to be able to leave the country.

"Either we just go far away and be silent na or we fight this out 'til the end. We really tried to give him the assurance na 'Sige po, just for the sake of the church we are willing to be silent,'" Menorca said.

Menorca noted that he was aware of the rumors spreading around that he was about to face a series of arrest warrants.

In October 2015, Menorca claimed that he was kidnapped by members of the police and detained at the INC compound for three months.

The INC, however, denied Menorca's accusation that they were behind his alleged kidnapping and illegal detention. — Patricia Lourdes Viray

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