MANILA – A former Iglesia ni Cristo minister who accused the religious sect of threatening him and his family was arrested Wednesday by non-uniformed police led by a police superintendent who is a member of the INC.

Speaking to dzMM, Lowell Menorca said he was about to go to the Court of Appeals (CA) to attend a hearing on his petition for writs of amparo and habeas corpus when plainclothes men suddenly accosted him and his companions along Roxas Boulevard.

Menorca, who was expelled by the INC after he accused the leaders of the powerful sect of ordering his abduction in Sorsogon last year, said his arrest was highly irregular.

“Galing po ako ng safehouse. Papunta ako sa Court of Appeals. Magpapalit po kami ng sasakyan bago pumunta ng Court of Appeals. Pagbabang-pagbaba ko, dinambahan na ako ng naka civilian na nakamotor lang at niyakap na ako at nakipagbuno sa akin at sinabi may warrant daw ako. Pulis daw po siya,” he said in a radio DZMM interview.

Menorca said when the cop finally released the alleged arrest warrant, the latter refused to show it to them. He said what was issued to him was an alias warrant.

“Hindi ako naka-attend ng hearing tapos biglang may warrant? Wala akong kamalay malay,” he said.

At least 20 cops in uniform later showed up in the area to arrest Menorca, a radio DZMM report said.

Pandacan Police Station head Supt. Ed Leonardo later confirmed that the arrest warrant was based on a libel case filed in Marawi City.

”Mayroon kaming warrant galing ng Marawi City. Libel po ang kaso niya at bailable naman. Pero nung sine-serve nagkaroon ng commotion,” Leonardo said.

He also defended the operation, saying he allowed policemen in plainclothes to accost Menorca so that he would not elude arrest.

“Para lang makalapit pero may mga nakapalibot na pulis…Baka mag elude ng arrest,” he said.

Menorca slammed Leonardo for leading his arrest after the latter admitted he is a member of the INC.

He insisted that Manila Police District (MPD) director Chief Supt. Rolando Nana should lead his arrest because Leonardo’s involvement is a clear case of conflict of interest.

Menorca’s lawyer, Trixie Cruz-Angeles, also slammed the timing of the arrest, saying Menorca was supposed to take the witness stand today for his petition for writs of amparo and habeas corpus at the CA.

Menorca, who hails from Sorsogon, earlier claimed that he was abducted by policemen on orders from the INC leadership. He said he was among INC members accused of running the controversial ant-INC blog of a certain Antonio Ebangelista.

”Sasama po ako at ang ano ko lang po eh talagang totoo ang death threats at harassment nila sa akin,” Menorca said.

SOURCE: 

http://news.abs-cbn.com/nation/01/20/16/ex-inc-minister-menorca-arrested-on-way-to-court/

MANILA – The spokesperson of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) church has denied any involvement in the recent arrest of expelled member Lowell Menorca in Manila.

“Personally po, hindi ko alam na may nanghuhuling nangyayari sa kanya. Marahil po ang mabuting matanong yung mga umaaresto kung mayroon po ba silang warrant of arrest po. Sila ang mas higit na nasa tamang posisyon para magpaliwanag ng ginagawa po nila,” INC spokesperson Edwil Zabala said.

Zabala said that expelling Menorca from INC’s membership is enough for the organization.

“Itiniwalag na po namin si Menorca sa Iglesia Ni Cristo. Sapat na po yun sa panig ng Iglesia…the most that can be done as far as his membership with the church is concerned,” he said.

He said that if there is indeed a case against Menorca, he should face it and not blame the church. “Hindi naman po ang organisasyong Iglesia Ni Cristo ang umaaresto sa kanya, yung mga pulis,” he said.

The INC spokesperson likewise brushed off Menorca’s allegations that the threat on his life is a way to prevent him from giving his testimony before the Court of Appeals on Wednesday morning.

“Opinyon po yun sa bahagi niya. Ang tanong pong nanatili ay kung may warrant of arrest, bakit ang Iglesia Ni Cristo ang kanyang kinukuwestiyon ngayon? Bakit hindi yung nagse-serve sa kanya ng warrant of arrest?” Zabala said.

For his part, Menorca said he expected the INC to deny all allegations against the organization.

“Of course, they are going to deny everything. They even denied about kidnapping, the illegal detention. They denied about everything. Wala silang alam doon. So they will continue to deny all of those things,” he said.

He likewise clarified that he is bent on following the law.

“Bagamat alam ko na ginagamit nila ang batas para gipitin ang tulad ko, hindi ako lalaban. Di ako tatakas. Ang gusto lang matiyak ng asawa ko, pamilya ko ay ligtas ako. Hindi kasi nila ako pwedeng kumbinsihin na porke’t naka-uniporme ang mga pulis na ito ay ligtas na ako,” he said.

Menorca earlier accused the INC of abducting him after he was accused of writing a blog that was critical of the INC leadership.

“Dahil sila mismo ang dumukot sa akin, pinosasan ako, ibiniyahe ako mula Sorsogon hanggang Dasmariñas para ipapatay ako at nung nakaligtas ako ipinakulong ako, kinasuhan ako ng pagdadala daw ng granada.”

“Itong mga bagay na ito, di nila ako kayang kumbinsihin na walang kinalaman ang Iglesia Ni Cristo,” he added.

Menorca was arrested on Wednesday morning based on a warrant issued by a court in Lanao del Norte for libel. He was brought to the Manila Police District Station 5 and will undergo regular booking process.

Meanwhile, MPD Chief Rolando Nana has assured Menorca’s safety.

“Just like any other inmate po or arrested, they will be accorded due process,” Nana said.

SOURCE:

http://news.abs-cbn.com/nation/01/20/16/inc-denies-involvement-in-menorca-arrest