Former INC minister Isaias Samson Jr. said that the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) church council, also known as the Sanggunian, deceived its members in order to protect themselves.
Former INC minister Isaias Samson calls EDSA protest a ‘desperate act’
Updated 18:33 PM PHT Sat, August 29, 2015
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Former INC minister Isaias Samson Jr. said that the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) church council, also known as the Sanggunian, deceived its members in order to protect themselves and called the gathering of supporters on EDSA a desperate move.
In an interview on CNN Philippines’ Weekend Updates, Samson said that the Sanggunian are only hiding behind the issue of the impending arrest that will be served against Executive Minister Bro. Eduardo V. Manalo.
“They are hiding behind what they call an issue about the arrest, or impending arrest, that will be served against Bro. Eduardo V. Manalo.” said Samson. “How could it happen when they know for a fact, and they have seen it in television, that the only ones who are accused, or the respondents, are the members of the Sanggunian.”
In a separate interview on CNN Philippines’ Weekend Updates, INC spokesperson Edwil Zabala said that the protest was to urge Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to properly implement the rule of law.
“Ginagamit po namin yung karapatan namin upang payapang magtipon para ilabas ang aming hinaing at hingin po sa kanya, kay kalihim De Lima, na ipatupad po niya ng patas, parehas ang isinasaad po ng batas,” said Zabala.
Zabala also clarified that the call for De Lima’s resignation is just the opinion of a minority of the church, and not the official stance of the INC.
Related: Mandaluyong grants INC permit to protest
Protests began Thursday afternoon (August 27), demanding De Lima to “back off” from the case filed by Samson, who filed harassment, illegal detention and coercion complaints against the members of INC’s Sanggunian.
According to Samson, the Sanggunian has been telling its members in their worship services and text messages that Bro. Eduardo Manalo has been charged in the court of law.
Samson went on to call the protest on EDSA a “desperate act” for the Sanggunian to protect themselves. He also described the move as “the equivalent of going against the law.”
“Why not allow the law to be followed,” he said. “It has been and it’s always a doctrine in the church that we submit ourselves to the laws of the government and it is written in the Bible.”
The former minister also called out to the Sanggunian saying that if they have done nothing wrong, then they have nothing to fear from the suit.
Samson said that the turnout in EDSA and the DOJ pales in comparison to previous calls from the church that have brought about hundreds of thousands to Manila in the past, which is proof that the Sanggunian has lost the belief of the majority of the church.
“Kung titingnan nilang mabuti ang bilang nang nagtungo sa EDSA at maging doon sa DOJ, yun po ang katunayan na ang majority ng mga kaanib sa Iglesia ni Cristo ay hindi na po naniniwala sa kanila.” Samson said.
“Sawang-sawa na po sa mga corruption or katiwalian na nakikita nilang nagagawa ng ilang tiwaling mga ministro sa Iglesia.”
SOURCE: CNN Philippines: Former INC minister Isaias Samson calls EDSA protest a ‘desperate act’