Manalo brother hits Iglesia ni Cristo 'corruption'
MANILA, Philippines – After a day of avoiding media, Angel Manalo faced reporters past midnight Friday, July 24, with allegations of corruption within the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) group headed by his elder brother Eduardo.
Angel had holed up inside the INC compound in Quezon City, but opened a small window on the compound's gate to issue a statement.
Angel denied he was openly challenging his brother's leadership.
But he also pointed out that there had been "no anomalies" under the group's first two leaders, Felix Manalo and Eraño Manalo.
"Bakit sa panahon ngayon, napakarami nang anomalya? Baka sabihin ng iba, eh kinakalaban namin ang aming kapatid. Hindi po, mahal po namin ang aming kapatid. Kaya lang ang nagiging problema natin, ang mga nasa paligid niya," Angel said.
(Why is it that these days, there are many anomalies? Others might say we're challenging our brother. No, we love our brother. But our problem is with people around him.)
He added: "Nasira na ang doktrina ng Iglesia ni Cristo. Kung papaano ninyo hinangaan noon, nakita ninyo, napakarami nang anomalya. Napakarami nang tiwali na ginagawa sa Iglesia. Iyon po ang ayaw namin."
(The doctrine of the Iglesia ni Cristo is now damaged. In the same way that you looked up to us before, now you can see there are many anomalies. There are many acts of corruption in the Church. That's what we want to avoid.)
'Don't listen to the corrupt'
Angel then appealed to his brother not to listen to corrupt officials within the Sanggunian (Council), whom he alleged were behind questionable deals backed by the INC.
"Ang aming pakiusap, 'wag siyang maniniwala sa Sanggunian na kanyang pinagkakatiwalaan, sapagkat nauubos na ang abuloy ng Iglesia sa mga proyekto na hindi naman kailangan," he said.
(Our request is, he should not believe in the Sanggunian that he is trusting, because donations to the Iglesia are wasted on unnecessary projects.)
Angel's statement comes after the police visited the INC's compound in Tandang Sora, Quezon City, to check allegations of abduction.
Police on Friday morning ruled out any case of abduction there.
Tension rose in Tandang Sora on Thursday, July 23, after Angel appealed for help on Youtube and supporters trooped to the INC compound.
Felix Nathaniel “Angel” Manalo and his mother Tenny were expelled by Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) executive minister Eduardo Manalo after the two released a YouTube video claiming that their lives “are in danger.”
In a news conference held on Thursday, July 23, INC General Evangelist Bienvenido Santiago announced the expulsion of the two members.
“Masakit man sa loob ng Kapatid na Eduardo Manalo ay ipinasya nila na itiwalag yung mga lumilikha ng mga pagkakabaha-bahagi sa Iglesia. Kaya sa mga pagsambang isasagawa ng Iglesia ni Cristo, simula sa araw na ito ay ipaaalam iyon sa lahat ng kapatid.“
(While it is painful for Brother Eduardo Manalo to make such decision, he opted to expel people creating factions in the church. Starting today, we will be announcing this to our brethren in the worship services of Iglesia ni Cristo. )
Angel is the younger brother of Eduardo who is currently the executive minister of INC. Their father Eraño “Erdy” Manalo, former executive minister of INC, passed away in August 2009.
A Call for Help
In the 1:54 long video uploaded on YouTube on Wednesday, July 22, Angel appealed to all the members of INC.
In the video, Angel said: “Nananawagan po kami sa inyo dahil nanganganib po ang aming buhay. Sana’y matulungan niyo po kami.”
(We are appealing to you because there is a threat to our lives. We hope you can help us.)
He then introduced his mother.
Tenny, the widow of Ka Erdy Manalo said: “Ako’y nananawagan sa aming mga kapatid sa Iglesia na tulungan ninyo kami dahil may panganib sa aming buhay. Saklolohan niyo ang aking mga anak, si Angel at Lottie at ang kanilang mga kasama. Tulungan niyo rin ang mga ministro na dinukot at hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa nakikita. Kaawaan natin sila at ang kanilang pamilya.”
(I’m appealing to our brethren in the Church to help us because our lives are in danger. Help my children Angel, Lottie, and their companions. Help the ministers who were abducted and until now have not been found. Let us have mercy on them and their families.)
Watch the video below:
Hostages inside INC building
In the midst of the controversy, an unidentified person flashed a sign that said, “Tulong, hostage kami” outside a building owned by INC at 36 Tandang Sora, Quezon City on Thursday, July 23.
The sign was flashed two times between 11 am and 12 nn.
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| PHOTO CREDIT: Mark Saludes/Rappler |
Reporters from ABS-CBN, GMA-7, TV-5, Rappler, and CNN Philippines stayed outside the building to follow the latest developments.
The unidentified person then flashed signs warning onlookers against armed personnel aboard a Revo vehicle.
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An international Christian denomination, Iglesia ni Cristo was registered in 1914 by Felix Manalo, its first executive minister.
The powerful church with an estimated 1.37 million followers as of 2013 will be commemorating its 101st anniversary on Monday, July 27.
Rappler revealed that at least three sources from the church claimed that there seems to be a division threatening INC.