QC prosecutors recommend no bail for Angel Manalo

The Quezon City Prosecutor's Office has recommended no bail on the illegal possession of firearms case of Felix Nathaniel "Angel" Manalo, brother of Iglesia ni Cristo Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo.

According to a resolution penned by Sr. Assistant City Prosecutor Nilo Penaflor, Manalo is facing charges  in connection with the various ammunition recovered by the police from his home inside the Iglesia Ni Cristo compound in Tandang Sora.

"Illegal possession of firearms against Felix Nathaniel Manalo a.k.a. Angel Manalo who is admittedly the owner/occupant of the house where the subject firearms were seized and/or confiscated by victue of the Search Warrant issued with no bail recommended," the resolution said.

The prosecutor's office also recommended illegal possession of firearms and ammunition charges against one of Manalo's relatives, Victor Eraño "Jem" Manalo Hemedes, described as "the owner of firearms spare parts, bullets named and/or listed" in the affidavit attached to the warrant.

The prosecutor's office, however, recommended the chance for bail on Hemedes' case.

Manalo and 26 others were brought to the headquarters of the Quezon City Police District in Camp Karingal last week for investigation over alleged indiscriminate firing of firearms at their home. 

The QCPD later filed a case of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition against Manalo and the others. 

Two of Manalo's co-accused, Jonathan Ledesma and Joseph Sabbacula, face additional charges of frustrated murder and direct assault for shooting and wounding two policemen of the Special Weapons and Tactics team who served the search warrant.

The prosecutor's office affirmed the charges against Ledesma who, according to witnesses, used an M-16 rifle to fire at PO2 Henry Hular and a certain PO2 Oandasan.

The charges against Sabbacula were recommended to undergo further investigation since it was not established that he acted in conspiracy with Ledesma.

Meanwhile, the prosecutor's office ordered the release of Sabbacula and 24 other co-accused, including five members of the Manalo family, while preliminary investigation to determine probable cause is still pending.

Manalo and the family's matriarch, Cristina "Tenny" Manalo, were expelled by the Iglesia Ni Cristo in 2015 for allegedly sowing disharmony among its members when the younger Manalo sought help from the public, claiming that their life is in danger.  —KBK, GMA News