BURLINGAME, California – Expelled and current members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) gathered in front of the church’s U.S. Main Office to protest what they call “continued corruption” by the church leadership.

Over 50 people who protested at the San Francisco Bay Area headquarters on Sunday morning came as far from southern California to add their voices to the growing choir of dissent.

“What we really want is that they stop persecuting the family of Ka Erdy and stop persecuting the members who have shown light to other members by speaking of the truth, speaking of the corruption,” said Arvin Cayabyab.

“It’s really an unethical way to respond to brethren who love the church, have legit concerns about what’s going on in the church, and the answers that they get is just expulsions and have no answers at all,” said Jonas Hernando.

Rommel V. San Pedro, who is an INC minister and the church’s U.S. attorney, said that while the church respects the freedom of speech from the protesters, he insists their views are wrong.

“What they’re doing there is libeling the Church of Christ and making defamatory statements that have no basis and fact. That’s why the proper forum is the court and that is the reason why we already launched a series of lawsuits because, in the Philippines and in the United States, we want the truth to come out,” said Atty. San Pedro.

He also said the church has been open to dialogue with anyone and will continue to be open to it.

“Their activities have been patterned and timed to conflict with our own activities. We have reason to believe certain groups are working with others to try and interfere with our right to worship in peace. That’s all we want in the Church of Christ–to worship our God Almighty in peace,” he said.

San Pedro declined to give a response when asked about the claims of human rights violations against Angel and Tenny Manalo in the Philippines.

“We have no comment regarding that at this moment because this is the U.S. branch of the Church of Christ and I have no information regarding that at all,” said San Pedro.

SOURCE: ABS-CBN News: INC official in US denounces growing dissent among Fil-Am members