(Eagle News) — The Iglesia Ni Cristo has released its official answer to accusations coming from expelled INC member Lowell Menorca II regarding his arrest Wednesday morning (January 20), saying that it was a police matter and contrary to Menorca’s opinion, the INC had no hand in it.
In a press conference held at 2:00 PM Wednesday, spokesperson minister Edwil Zabala read a statement saying that the INC legal team was in fact waiting for Menorca at the Court of Appeals that morning for his appearance in court.
“They are fully prepared for that hearing and have been waiting for Mr. Menorca to appear in court. We were dumbfounded upon learning that our name is again being besmirched by Mr. Menorca,” he said.
“Mr. Menorca is alleged to have made defamatory statements against some INC members who are part of our medical and rescue units. These members were offended and filed the complaint against Mr. Menorca,” he said.
The members of the various chapters of the group SCAN International or Society of Communicators and Networkers International filed several cases against Menorca for his statements made in a press conference in October 28 where he described the members of SCAN as a “hit squad” and a “death squad” of the INC.
Zabala said that the INC had nothing to do with the serving of the arrest warrant, and that this was a police matter.
“An arrest warrant was issued and that it was served this morning (Wednesday January 20)is beyond the control of the complainants since that was dependent on the police finding the opportunity to serve it,” he said on Wednesday.
Zabala also said that the INC has no hold on its members who would want to file cases against non-INC members. Based on INC doctrines, INC members are not allowed to file a case in court against a fellow INC member.
But Menorca is no longer an INC member, Zabala stressed.
Menorca’s connection to expelled residents of 36 T. Sora
Zabala also mentioned that there is a connection between Menorca and those residing at No. 36 Tandang Sora Avenue. They have the same lawyer for instance, the INC spokesman said, referring to Atty. Trixie Angeles.
Angeles is the main counsel of expelled INC members Lottie Hemedez and Angel Manalo. She is also the lawyer of expelled INC minister Isaias T. Samson Jr., who, in several occasions, had also spoken on behalf of Lottie and Angel. And incidentally, Atty. Angeles also served as lawyer for former Marines Capt. Nicanor Faeldon whose security company was hired by Lottie and Angel. In fact, it was Atty. Angeles who had tried to initially bring in Faeldon and his men inside the INC’s Tandang Sora compound in October where Lottie and Angel are still staying.
Sources said that Menorca was a former very close aide of expelled INC brothers Marco V. Manalo and Felix Nathaniel “Angel” Manalo, and that Marco is in the United States, where a handful of expelled INC members had staged protest rallies against the INC last year.
The INC has filed an injunction case against Lottie, Angel and their group for allowing the entry of unauthorized individuals – some of whom were even able to bring guns – inside the INC property. It was only after the filing of the injunction case in late September did the INC post permanent security guards outside the compound’s gate to inspect packages being brought to the T. Sora property, as well as to monitor individuals who would want to enter the area.
The INC spokesman said that soon the truth regarding Menorca’s connections will be revealed.
Zabala also stressed to members of the media that Menorca was never a minister, but only an evangelical worker. He had not yet passed the standards to be ordained as a minister, Zabala said.
“He was never ordained as a minister in the Iglesia Ni Cristo. To say that he’s an ex-minister is wrong,” he said correcting previous media reports about Menorca.