UPDATED (Eagle News) — Iglesia Ni Cristo spokesperson Edwil Zabala has dared expelled ministers to produce evidence on alleged corruption inside the Church.
In an interview with NET 25, Zabala said it is up to the accusers to bring to light evidence regarding their claims of corruption allegedly happening within the Church.
Among those expelled members of the INC, former ministers, who made allegations of corruption within the Church, were Angel Manalo, younger brother of the INC executive minister Eduardo V. Manalo, and Isaias Samson Jr., a former-editor-in-chief of the Pasugo magazine of the INC.
The INC has flatly denied their allegations.
“Sa panig po ng Iglesia Ni Cristo, ay nagkakaunawaan po ang mga kaanib sa Iglesia. Hindi sapat na mayroong akusasyon. Kinakailangan po magbigay ng pruweba o patotoo upang sa ganoon ay magkaroon ng pagkakataon yung inaakusahan na sagutin kung anuman po ang diumano ay pruweba na ibinibigay noong nagbibigay ng akusasyon. Hindi po maaaring tsismis, hindi po maaaring emosyon ang maging batayan,” Zabala said in an interview with NET 25.
Zabala said there is a proper time and proper place to thresh out these accusations, so that the truth would be clear to all.
“Kami po sa Iglesia Ni Cristo ay may tamang lugar at paraan para sa pagsisiyasat ng ganiyang mga akusasyon. Kami po sa Iglesia Ni Cristo ay nauunawaan namin na kailangang ang akusasyon ay suportahan ng ebidensya. Sapagkat kung walang ebidensya at puro akusasyon, wala pong halaga yan, puro paninira lamang,” he said in a later interview.
“Subalit handa po ang Iglesia Ni Cristo na patunayan na ang mga akusasyon na ibinabato laban sa Iglesia ay walang katotohanan. Naninindigan po ang Tagapamahalang Pngkalahatan ng Iglesia Ni Cristo sa pagpapatupad ng mga simulain at aral ng Biblia na itinuro ni Kapatid na Felix Y. Manalo at patuloy na itinuro ni Kapatid na Erano Manalo, sapagkat nasa pagsunod sa mga kalooban ng Diyos ang ikalalapit natin sa Kanya, at ikapagtatamo ng biyayang kaligtasan,” he explained.
Zabala said it is clear to members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo that the present Church Administration cares for them.
It is also very clear to INC members how God blesses the Church, Zabala said.
“Kitang kita naman po ng mga kaanib sa Iglesia Ni Cristo ang patuloy na kahayagan ng pag-ibig ng Panginoong Diyos sa Iglesia Ni Cristo. Itinuro po ni kapatid na Eduardo Manalo na ibalik namin sa Panginoong Diyos ang kapurihan para sa lahat ng mga hayag na tagumpay na nagmumula sa Kanya,” he said.
Zabala also pointed out that the 873 houses of worship built by the INC since 2011 not just in the Philippines, but in other countries as well, serves as proof that Church funds had been properly managed and accounted for.
“Hindi maikakaila na ang pagtatayo ng 873 gusaling sambahan mula lamang noong taong 2011 hanggang sa kasalukuyan ay patunay na maayos na napangangasiwaan ang mga kusang handog ng mga kaanib sa Iglesia Ni Cristo,” he said.
Zabala pointed out that the building of hundreds of houses of worship, all over the world, was done while the Philippine Arena and the Philippine Sports Stadium in Ciudad de Victoria, were being constructed.
“Kasabay ng mga gusaling sambahang ito ay naipatayo ang Philippine Arena at Philippine Sports Stadium, ang mga bagong gusali na ginagamit ng iba’t ibang tanggapan, maging ang iba’t ibang resettlement sites, at ang mga isinagawang Lingap Pamamahayag, ay isinakatuparan ng hindi napababayaan ang pangangailangan ukol sa pagtatayo ng mga bagong gusaling sambahan,” Zabala said.
He said all activities of the INC regarding its centennial closing ceremonies will push through as scheduled, including the Unity Games International finals, the INC musical and the special worship service to be officiated by the INC Executive Minister Eduardo V. Manalo at the Philippine Arena on Sunday, July 26.
He said even non-members of the INC, or even members of the media, can attend the special gathering.
But it should be clear, he said, that there should be no form of recording during the worship service.
“The media can attend. They can observe, so they too can benefit from the the teachings in the Bible, the words of God, that will be taught during the worship service,” he said in Filipino. (Eagle News Service)
