INC members beat up Pentecostal preachers

What was supposed to be an enlightening religious debate in Tondo turned violent as members of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) beat up three preachers from the Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ (PMCC), the Manila Police District (MPD) said yesterday.

Police said some PMCC and INC members had gathered for a scheduled religious debate at the corner of Quiricada and Almeda streets.

According to the police, the violence started when INC minister Felix Mangulabnan allegedly grabbed a videocamera held by PMCC preacher Allen Alhambra, 34, who was taking footages of the debate. PMCC preachers Luz Esto, 49, and Rodolfo Catarroja, 50, joined in the struggle over the videocamera.

It was then that INC member Joseph Salombre and his companions joined the fray and beat up the PMCC preachers. Mangulabnan even reportedly hit Esto on the forehead with the videocamera before walking away.

Police officers arrested Salombre after the PMCC preachers identified him as among those who beat them up and stole the video equipment that belonged to their church.

For future religious debates, the MPD suggested to let cooler heads prevail.

“These debates should be done in public places like the plazas and they should avoid violence. They should appoint a moderator and clarify the rules of the debate if they should allow the video recording,” the police said.   – Evelyn Macairan