(Eagle News) – This was the scene in front of no. 36 Tandang Sora Avenue where expelled Iglesia Ni Cristo members Lottie Hemedez and Felix Nathaniel “Angel” Manalo were staying.
It can be seen here in the CCTV video footage how a news crew of television station ABS-CBN came along with the younger brother of Lowell Menorca II, Anthony, who later on made a scene in front of the INC property as he tried to enter the compound. The Menorca brothers are both expelled INC members.
With the ABS CBN news crew to cover his actions, Anthony tried to enter the INC compound and even questioned INC security guards at the gate as the ABS-CBN reporter held a camera while wearing an improvised veil to cover her face.
The INC guards prevented Anthony Menorca from entering the compound since he was not authorized to enter the INC property. But the food and other grocery items he had with him were allowed to be brought in.
Menorca’s scene made it to the news program of ABS-CBN
Coincidentally, on January 15, another news crew of the same TV network came together with the group of Lottie Hemedez when unauthorized individuals including former members of the military and the Marines – all Lottie’s bodyguards – were trying to force their way into the INC compound.
This caused a commotion in front the INC’s Tandang Sora property.
ABS CBN broadcaster and anchor Ces Drilon, headed the television news crew covering the event.
Drilon was also seen shouting at the INC security guards in front of the INC’s Tandang Sora compound after the commotion, as she repeatedly said, “Anong nangyayari? (What’s happening)” with a reprimanding voice.
She also was with Lottie Hemedez to cover her pronouncements in the “selective press conference” where only ABS-CBN, Rappler and Inquirer were invited and allowed inside the Microtel Hotel, the venue of Lottie’s press briefing.
Here in the same “selective press conference,” the armed escorts of Lottie Hemedez, who were former military men, as well as their other companions, barred the entry of NET 25’s Eagle News team.
More recently, media has reported about leaked documents that came from the Hemedez’s camp which showed the “script” or sequence guide of the January 15 activities of Lottie Hemedez, the main event being her presscon. In the document, it was detailed how former military men had been closely working with the residents of no. 36 Tandang Sora Avenue, particularly the expelled members Lottie Hemedez and Angel Manalo.
The documents also showed how their media plan had been scripted, It listed the coordinator as Lowell Menorca II.
Named as the team leader of the Marines was a certain Reuben Santiago who was supposed to pick up the rest of the Marines and proceed to a safehouse at the time of the press conference of Lottie Hemedez on January 15.
The script of events as revealed in the documents that came out in media — where Lowell Menorca II, was listed as the “coordinator” — also detailed the dry run for the January 15 presscon, the time of the pick-up for the media they invited and the filing of the complaint at the barangay hall which would be covered by media.
Also indicated were the scenarios for Lottie Hemedez’s return to the INC’s Tandang Sora property where the team of her security escorts from the Marines would have a crucial role.
The document clearly mentioned members of the Marines.
It would be recalled that the camp of Lottie Hemedez and Angel Manalo had earlier secured the services of former Marines Capt. Nicanor Faeldon who was involved in the 2003 Oakwood mutiny where members of the Marines were also involved.
His former lawyer, Atty. Trixie Angeles, now also happens to be the main lawyer of Angel Manalo and Lottie Hemedez, as well as of Lowell Menorca II and another expelled INC member, former minister Isaias Samson Jr.
The connections point to a deeper connivance where their major moves are conveniently covered by the media in a script – which as documents from Hemedez’s camp reveal — happened to be coordinated by no less than Menorca.
Lowell Menorca II was a former close aide of expelled INC ministers, brothers Felix Nathaniel “Angel” Manalo and Marco Erano V. Manalo who had previously ran the INC’s media arm, GEMNET.
Menorca, along with expelled INC minister Eliodoro “Joy” Yuson –another close aide of Angel and Marco Manalo — worked in GEMNET when the two brothers were at its helm.