De Lima: NBI probe on Iglesia ni Cristo 'abduction' not yet closed

Contrary to the pronouncement of the National Bureau of Investigation, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Wednesday clarified that the bureau is not yet "closing" its investigation on the alleged abduction of Iglesia ni Cristo ministers.

 

De Lima was reacting to a statement made by Manuel Eduarte, chief of the NBI Anti-Organized Transnational Crime Division, that the bureau has considered the case closed after NBI agents coordinated with the INC central office and failed to access an INC compound in Quezon City where Felix Nathaniel "Angel" Manalo.

 

"It's not case closed yet kasi nga even if mayroon nang initial report sa akin ay meron pang tinatapos, okay," De Lima told reporters.

 

Manalo and his mother earlier claimed in a video that circulated on YouTube that their lives where under threat and that INC ministers had been abducted.

 

De Lima said the NBI has already come up with an initial report but that does not mean its probe had ended.

 

"As soon as I have the next report dun sa pinagawa ko sa kanila Monday and Wednesday, then probably already I can share the results," she said.

 

De Lima said she does not think it would be prudent for her to share the initial findings, but assured the public that the NBI is already verifying reports and trying to identify all 10 INC ministers that were supposedly abducted.

 

The NBI is also determining if Angel Manalo, who had refused to come out of the INC compound, was being held against his will.

 

De Lima said that while NBI agents had been able to enter the compound's main gate, a side gate where Angel would peek from time to time remains inaccessible. —ALG, GMA News