NEW ERA, Quezon City (Eagle News)–Iglesia Ni Cristo(INC) Spokesman, Minister Edwil Zabala disparaged the recent move of the expelled members of the INC (supporters of Angel Manalo and Lottie Hemedez) who trooped to the vicinity of the House of Representatives in Quezon City to listen to President Rodrigo Duterte’s first State of the Nation Address and to air their allegations of oppression against the INC.
Zabala said in a text message to Eagle News, “These recent antics by the supporters of Mr. Angel Manalo and Mrs. Lottie Hemedez do not change the fact that the INC filed a case and followed the procedures laid down by law.”
Last month, Judge Ann Sia of Manila Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 12 decided the case in favor of the ejectment case filed by INC against the illegal occupants of 36 Tandang Sora led by Manalo and Hemedez. The court immediately ordered the illegal occupants of to “immediately vacate” the said church premises.
The court added that the stay of the siblings in 36 Tandang Sora was no longer legal. It was merely “tolerated” by the property’s real owner, the INC. When they were expelled from the Church after they violated Church doctrines this “tolerance” ended, the court ruling said. But Manalo and Hemedez continue to defy the decision of the court.
Zabala added, “INC members are aware that Lottie and Angel continue to violate the civil and political right to security of those who work at the INC Central Office, as well as the Church’s exclusive economic right to the use and enjoyment of our property.”
Viral videos in Social Media have shown that the INC continues to permit the deliveries of food and other supplies to those illegally occupying their 36 Tandang Sora property, disproving claims of some that food deliveries are being hindered. In one such video, Adronico P. Metran of Quezon City Social Services Development Department is saying that there is no harassment taking place in the said property and that the inspection of deliveries is just normal procedure. In another viral video, Jem Hemedez (son of Lottie Hemedez) and a certain Robert Morales are seen opening their windows and giving instructions on food delivery.
Zabala also disproved allegations that Angel and Lottie are prisoners in their own home. The INC spokesman calls on them to end their antics and to just obey the ruling of the court. “The Court has resolved in favor of the Church ordering the occupants of 36 Tandang Sora to immediately vacate the premises they unlawfully detained… Meanwhile, we call on these people who are illegally detaining Church premises to end their antics.” Zabala said.