Angel Manalo, two others transferred to Camp Bagong Diwa

Authorities on Friday morning transferred detained Felix Nathaniel "Angel" Manalo, brother of Iglesia ni Cristo Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo, and two others to Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City.

Transferred along with Manalo were Gem Manalo-Hemedez, a nephew of the executive minister, and Jonathan Ledesma, GMA News’ Maki Pulido said in a Balitanghali report.

Angel Manalo dadalhin nasa Camp Bagong Diwa sa Taguig kung saan siya ikukulong @dzbb pic.twitter.com/744WSEA5VH

— Allan Gatus (@allangatus) March 17, 2017

Manalo and Hemedez were charged with illegal possession of firearms, while Ledesma was indicted for direct assault.

The three were initially detained inside Camp Karingal in Quezon City but were transferred to Camp Bagong Diwa pursuant to the commitment order issued by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court.

The cases stemmed from the raid conducted on March 2, by virtue of a search warrant, by the Quezon City Police District at the compound where Manalo resides.

Several high-caliber firearms were seized during the raid. Ledesma also allegedly fired at two policemen during the raid.

Thirty-two individuals were arrested in the raid, but only three were charged, the report said.

According to QCPD director Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar, Manalo was only charged with illegal possession of firearms because it was his name that was indicated on the search warrant.

Eleazar, however, could not give a specific answer regarding the result of the verification process for the seized firearms allegedly owned by Manalo.

There was also no paraffin test conducted on Ledesma who was charged with direct assault and frustrated murder for allegedly firing at the two policemen.

Eleazar said based on the testimony of the two policemen, they saw the person who shot them. The former, however, could not say how close the assailant was to the policemen.

Before transferring to Camp Bagong Diwa, Manalo and the two others were brought to QCPD Station 10 to undergo a physical examination.

Manalo’s heavily-guarded convoy arrived at Metro Manila District Jail at Camp Bagong Diwa before 10 a.m.

The Quezon City Prosecutor's Office has earlier recommended no bail for Manalo for the said case.

Iglesia statement

The spokesperson of Iglesia ni Cristo on Friday issued a statement saying it is up to the police to explain why Manalo and the others were arrested.

"We believe that the police would be in a better position to explain why these individuals were arrested on charges of illegal possession of firearms," Ka Edwil Zabala, spokesperson of Iglesia ni Cristo, said.

"For our part, we continue to express our admiration for the officers who honorably fulfilled their sworn duty and pray for the officers who were injured," he added. —Erwin Colcol/KG, GMA News