MANILA, Philippines – A Manila court has ordered the eviction of the estranged siblings of Iglesia ni Cristo executive minister Eduardo Manalo from the INC property in Tandang Sora, Quezon City.
Judge Anne Perpetual Rivera-Sia of the Manila Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 12 ruled in favor of the INC’s ejectment suit against expelled INC leaders Lolita “Lottie” Manalo-Hemedez and Felix Nathaniel “Angel” Manalo.
In a six-page decision received by the INC last week, the court said Hemedez and Manalo are illegally residing in the church’s property at 36 Tandang Sora.
The court ordered the Manalo siblings to immediate vacate the INC property.
They lost their privilege to live in the property when they were expelled in July last year, INC spokesman Edwil Zabala said.
Zabala believes the siblings posed a threat to INC, claiming that security personnel at the Tandang Sora property reportedly intercepted hearing devices, wire and parts of a drone, which were supposedly delivered to Hemedez and Angel.
He said the items were allegedly concealed in food deliveries and packages from the visitors of the siblings.
“The court ordered them to immediately vacate and surrender possession of the premises to the INC. If they do not do it on their own, we will be compelled to file a motion for execution,” INC lawyer Moises Tolentino said.
Trixie Angeles, lawyer for the Manalo siblings, said they would file a motion for reconsideration.
Senior Assistant City Prosecutor Solivan Usman recently dismissed a complaint for falsification of public documents filed by Hemedez against the INC leader for lack of evidence.
Hemedez, Angel and their mother Cristina were expelled from the INC after appearing in a video and claiming that their lives were in danger.
After their expulsion, Hemedez claimed that the Tandang Sora property does not belong to the INC because it was bought by her late husband.