A brother of Iglesia ni Cristo executive minister Eduardo Manalo, Angel Manalo, called on members of the Iglesia to hold vigil outside their residential compound in Quezon City and join them in defending their church against what he claims are corruption and doctrinal errors by the advisers of his brother.
“Hindi ko kinalaban ang kapatid sa pamamahala. Ang problema ang mga nasa paligid niya
nasira ang doktrina ng Iglesia ni Cristo kaya napakarami nang anomlaya at tiwali na ginagawa sa Iglesia,” Angel Manalo said.
"Pinagbabantaan kami ng sanggunian," he also said.
He told the news media early Friday morning that the funds of the Iglesia ni Cristo are being drained and spent on projects like the Philippine Arena.
"Kabilang ang Philippine Arena pinagtataka kung bakit ipinagawa. Ang ginagastusan noon ang paggawa ng kapilya," Manalo said.
Manalo also said their is no abduction taking place in their housing compound.
"Wala dito. Ang abduction sa labas...May bata (kami) na kasama na nahihirapan...batang kasama na nagbibiro," he said.
Reacting to Mr. Manalo's statements, Iglesia ni Cristo spokesman Edwil Zabala cast doubt on the earlier hostage situation claim of the residents within the Manalo housing compound.
QC police chief: No abduction Minutes before speaking to the news media, Angel Manalo conversed with Police Chief Superintendent Joel Pagdilao.
Pagdilao said he and his fellow police officers who went to the Manalo housing compound late Thursday evening did not find any indication of any "abduction" situation affecting the residents.
The Quezon City police chief, was, however, unable to enter beyond the gate and personally see the situation within the house in the compound.
Pagdilao, said the occupants of the house are safe.
"Bale nagpapasalamat tayo dahil dumungaw si Angel, at yun nga, medyo maliit lang yung dungaw na ibinigay niya sa atin. Ang pinaka-importante ay nakausap natin sila," he said.
He repeatedly said that the situation seemed to be an internal matter for the Iglesia ni Cristo and the Manalo family.
Mayor Herbert Bautista, who said he was at the scene for a personal update, said that the local government and the police will monitor the situation, but also repeatedly said that it is an internal matter.
Earlier, Zabala said the church has "no control" over the residential area, where the apparently estranged relatives of the church's Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo had claimed they were held against their will.
Zabala also said in a huddle with news media along Tandang Sora Avenue in Quezon City, that they are posing no objection or hindrance to Pagdilao's request to enter the housing compound to ascertain the condition of the residents.
Earlier in the night, some supporters and members of the Iglesia ni Cristo threw food into the housing compound.
Sana po makarating po sa kanila kasi patuloy po silang ginigipit sa loob eh. Kaya kailangang-kailangan po nila," Michael, a church member said in a report on "Saksi" on Thursday.
"Hindi po madali ang ginagawa namin ngayon. Wala po kaming materyal na pakinabang dito. Ang totoo, gumugugol kami ng panahon. Itinataya namin yung karapatan at ang buhay na rin. Kaya namin ito ginagawa ay gusto naming magkaroon ng katarungan," Jessa "Ka Lea" Mangingingibig, another member, said. — ELR, GMA News
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