Ex-Iglesia ni Cristo minister Menorca now a ‘refugee’ in Canada

After fleeing the country to escape alleged death threats to him and his family, former Iglesia ni Cristo minister Lowell Menorca is now a "refugee" in Vancouver, Canada.

In a statement Menorca said that he arrived in Vancouver in April 1 and has been granted "conditional refugee status."

"I am now scheduled for a hearing in front of the Immigration Refugee Board on May 26," Menorca said in a statement.

The Asian News Today reported that Menorca had left his pregnant wife and two-year-old daughter in Thailand and waiting for him to be able to bring them to Canada.

The report said that Menorca has a mother and sister in Vancouver.

In the statement, which the Asian News Today said was released by Menorca last April 27, Menorca said that he and his family fled to Vietnam on March 6.

From Vietnam, the family flew to Thailand, where Menorca left his wife and daughter.

"While in Thailand, my wife tried unsuccessfully to secure a visa to Canada so we can travel together but it was denied. It left me no choice but to travel alone on April 1 to go to Vancouver, Canada which was my port of entry. There, I applied for refugee status from the Canadian Immigration. I have secured a conditional refugee status and also I’ve applied for my family so they can follow me here," Menorca said.

Menorca had claimed that they decided to abruptly leave the Philippines last month due to a death threat on his daughter.

The Iglesia Ni Cristo announced on March 7 that Menorca has left the country.

Menorca is facing libel and adultery cases, which the former Iglesia ni Cristo minister claimed was the handiwork of the religious group.

In his statement, the former minister claimed "relentless persecution and harassment" by the religious group even after leaving the Philippines.

"Unfortunately, we were once again followed by INC officers serving as lookouts. Again, our pictures were posted on Facebook. The message was clear - there was no place we can hide where they cannot reach us, that wherever we went, we wouldn’t be safe," Menorca narrated.

Meanwhile, INC spokesman Edwil Zabala denied Menorca's claims, saying that the church is no longer connected to the former minister.