(Eagle News) — Iglesia Ni Cristo ministers, who were earlier reported by media to be missing, have come out in the open to belie claims of expelled INC ministers and other critics that they were abducted and tortured.
INC ministers Jojo Nemis, Arnel Tumanan, Nolan Olarte, and Lowell Menorca II came out in televised interviews today on NET 25 saying that they are safe and well, and have never ever been kidnapped nor hurt. Another INC minister, Bro, Joel San Pedro also belied reports from critics that he had been expelled from the Church. He said that he was in fact actively involved in the INC’s Unity Games International.
Menorca, who was earlier tagged by allies of Angel Manalo, as having been tortured and kidnapped, came out on national television on Wednesday, July 29, to say that he and his family are well, and hit the lies being peddled by expelled INC ministers using his name.
The ministers also called on the INC brethren not to believe all of the allegations of the other expelled INC ministers who have gone out on a media frenzy with claims of abduction and alleged hostage-taking of several INC ministers, and even of corruption inside the 101 year old church.
The ministers also expressed their love and loyalty to the INC Executive Minister, Bro. Eduardo V. Manalo, and thanked him for taking care of them and of the entire Church. They also stressed that they remain active INC ministers in the interview conducted by INC spokesperson Edwil Zabala.
“Kapatid na Eduardo Manalo, ang aming pinakamamahal na Tagapamahalang Pangkalahatan, kami po ng aking buong sambahayan ay lubos pong nagpapasalamat sa napakalabay na pag-ibig at pagmamahal po ninyo hindi lamang para sa aming kapakanan, kundi para sa kapakanan ng buong Iglesia. Nalalaman po namin ang kasalukuyang kinakaharap ng Iglesia na suliranin, at kami po kasama ang aming buong sambahayan at lahat ng aming mga mahal sa buhay, kami po ay matibay na nakapanig sa Tagapamahalang Pangkalahatan, sa Pamamahala sa Iglesia sapagkat alam po namin na dito ang kaligtasan po namin,” minister Menorca said.
“Nagpapasalamat po kami dahil sa kabila ng mga pagkukulang, mga kapintasan po ay patuloy pa rin po kaming kinakalinga, patuloy pa rin po kaming nililingap kasama ang aming buong sambahayan. Napakabait po ng Tagapamahalang Pangkalahatan kaya po hindi po matatapos ang aming taos-pusong pagpapasalamat sa lahat po ng pag-ibig, pagmamalasakit, hindi lamang po para sa aming kapakanan, kundi para sa kapakanan ng Iglesia, para sa kapakanan ng aming kaligtasan,” Menorca said tearfully.
Menorca, appeared together with his lawyer, to talk to INC spokesperson Zabala.
Menorca said it was he who had sought aid from the INC Executive Minister.
INC minister Olarte said he could not understand why his name had been dragged certain expelled INC ministers who claimed he had been abducted.
“Ang totoo, gusto kong magalit sa kanila,dahil idinadawit nila ang pangalan ko. Hindi ko alam kung paano nila idinawit at bakit idinadawit ang pangalan ko. Pero mas pinili ko po na … naalala ko yung itinuro ng Tagapamahalang Pangkalahatan na ang Diyos at ang Pamamahala ay hindi kalaban ng pagbabalik-loob, ang pagsisi ay hindi kahayagan ng karuwagan o pagiging takot kundi ng katapangan at ang kababaang loob ay hindi rin kahayagan ng pagiging mahina kundi ng kalakasan,” Olarte said.
“Kaya kung ako po ay bibigyan ng pagkakataon na kausapin sila, gusto ko silang payuhan na huwag silang pumayag na kainin sila o lamunin ng maling paraan o maling dahilan ng pagdaramdam sa Pamamahala. Kung bubuksan lang nila ang kanilang puso sa Pamamahala, mararamdaman nila yung malaking pagmamahal at malasakit ng Pamamahala sa buong Iglesia Ni Cristo,” he added.
(Eagle News Service)
