Life, work go on for Iglesia ni Cristo amid controversy

The Iglesia Ni Cristo leadership and its members continue to do their work amid the supposed feud between its executive minister Eduardo Manalo and his family led by brother Angel who accused the advisers of his brother of corruption and doctrinal errors, the church’s spokesperson said Friday afternoon.

“Mabuti naman po hindi lang ang pamunuan kundi pati ang mga kaanib sa Iglesia Ni Cristo,” Edwil Zabala said in an interview with GMA News TV’s QRT.

“We are focused on what the Iglesia Ni Cristo has always been focused on.

Kami ay relihiyon, nagsasagawa ng mga paglilingkod. Tuloy tuloy lang ang aming dati nang isinasagawa,” he added.

Asked on the participation of the National Bureau of Investigation and Bureau of Internal Revenue on the incident, Zabala said they will not issue a comment.

“Dahil sa sangay ng pamahalaan iyan ay no comment ako. Kung ano ang sinabi nila let that statement stand,” he said.

He believed that what they have stated Thursday regarding the supposed hostage-taking on members of the Iglesia ni Cristo have been enough.

“Para sa amin sapat na yung kahapon ay sinabi namin ang official statement o stand ng Iglesia Ni Cristo na nadagdagan ang noong kinagabihan nang mapatunayan ng mga taga-media, hepe ng pulisya at maging representative ng local government yung akusasyon na merong diumanong ayaw paalisin sa tinitirhan.  Inamin din mismo nung lumabas yung nasa sa loob na hindi pala tutuo na hinohostage siya. Samakatwid para sa amin tapos na ang usapan po,” he said.

Zabala further said that their followers are aware of the situation.

“Narinig na po nila. Nakakausap sila ng mga ministro sa Iglesia Ni Cristo tuwing dumadalo sa pagsamba, mula pa po noong Huwebes. Sapat na po iyon para sa mga kaanib sa Iglesia,” he said. -Amita Legaspi/NB, GMA News