Manila cops arrest ex-Iglesia minister before CA appearance

Manila policemen arrested former Iglesia ni Cristo minister Lowell Menorca on libel charges while he was on his way to the Court of Appeals (CA) for a hearing on the illegal detention case he filed against the religious group's officials on Wednesday morning.

Superintendent Ed Leonardo, chief of the Manila Polcie District Station 10, told radio dzBB that the arresting policemen tried to serve a wrrant of arrest on Menorca at the corner of Nakpil Street and Taft Avenue in Manila.

Menorca resisted arrest and was stopped at the corner of Quirino Avenue and Roxas Boulevard.

Radio dzBB reported that according to Menorca, he resisted the alleged arresting officers because they were not wearing police uniforms.

Menorca had claimed that his life is under threat due to the revelations he made against the Iglesia Ni Cristo.

Radio dzBB also reported that Leonardo admitted being a member of the religious group, but denied that it had something to do with Menorca's arrest.

Leonardo said that his office received a copy of the warrant of arrest based on a libel case filed against Menorca in Marawi City.

Manila cops arrest ex-Iglesia minister before CA appearance https://t.co/YqmDQ34jj8 pic.twitter.com/ahr0ZSLURL

— GMA News (@gmanews) January 20, 2016

MPD chief arrives

MPD director Chief Superintendent Ronaldo Nana, meanwhile, arrived at the scene and convinced Menorca to submit himself to the police.

Nana brought Menorca to the MPD Station 5 in Ermita, where he will be booked.

Menorca's lawyer, Trixie Angeles, said in separate interviews with radio dzBB and News To Go that news about the supposed libel case in Marawi City came as a surprise.

Angeles added that they did not receive any notice from the court about the supposed libel charge.

"Sa ngayon wala pa kaming nakikita na kahit ano man, kahit complaint affidavit. Ang alam lang namin may warrant of arrest," Angeles said.

At the time of the interview, Angeles was at the MPD Station 10 in Pandacan waiting for Menorca.

Reports said Angeles was proceeding to the MPD Station 5 to assist Menorca.

Angeles said the police should release Menorca and allow him to attend the hearing at the CA. The hearing is scheduled at 10 a.m.

Menorca was scheduled to be cross-examined on his testimony against officials of the Iglesia ni Cristo, including the religious group's executive minister, Eduardo Manalo.

He accused Manalo and other officials of the Iglesia ni Cristo of illegally detaining him and his wife and daughter.

Angeles questioned the timing of the arrest because it was made less than two hours of the scheduled appearance of Menorca at the CA.

Iglesia ni Cristo spokesperson Edwil Zabala, meanwhile, denied that the religious group had something to do with the arrest of Menorca.

He urged Menorca to face the libel charge. —reports from Ian Cruz and Carlo Mateo/ALG, GMA News