All quiet, barely a peep at the Manalo compound

Everything was quiet at the Manalo residence, which is part of the Iglesia ni Cristo compound, on 36 Tandang Sora Avenue in Quezon City on Friday, with police units and news organizations stationed outside the residence responsible for what little commotion there was.

The public's attention was drawn to the residence on Thursday after the apparently estranged relatives of the church’s Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo claimed they were being held against their will.

Angel, Eduardo's brother, had said that his and his mother's lives were being threatened. "Signs"  asking for help because they were being held hostage were posted outside the house.

Early Friday, Angel, speaking through a small window, said that there were no abductions taking place at their house. Rather, church ministers were being abducted. He added that the church was now accusing his family of corruption and doctrinal errors.

Expect for that brief moment, that small window into the Manalo family residnece and the Iglesia Ni Kristo remained mostly shut.

Food delivery

However, throughout Friday, the window was opened breifly several times to accept food deliveries. The food orders were placed online from as far as the United States and Singapore.

One of the food orders was made by a "Concerned Kapatid", with instructions that the food be "Deliver[ed] to Angel Manalo, 36 Tandang Sora (Ka Erdy's residence)."

Online delivery slip says order made by “Concerned Kapatid,” instruction: “Deliver to Angel Manalo, 36 Tandang Sora (Ka Erdy’s residence).”

— R-A. Dioquino (@AicaDioquino) July 24, 2015

The delivery people said that the food brought was enough for 30 people. Some came in boxes, others in several bags, even a bilao of barbecue.

They would wait for minutes, ring the doorbell and repeatedly and knock on the gate. One of them left with the order after a futile hour of waiting. He then came back after being instructed to do so.

For them, and an occasional delivery from members of the "Kapatiran," the small window would open, just barely, to accept the food.

NBI

Some four agents from the National Bureau of Investigation-National Capital Region and the Anti-Organized and Transnational Crimes Division arrived at residence before 3 p.m., with instructions that would they should begin their "exploratory" investigation on the alleged abductions.

Agents from the NBI knocking at the Manalo compound gate, ordered to start exploratory investigation. pic.twitter.com/HDWI1sF86Q

— R-A. Dioquino (@AicaDioquino) July 24, 2015

They rapped on the gate, calling out to whoever was at home, "NBI po ito, nangangamusta lang ho... Gusto lang po naming malaman ang kalagayan n'yo."

There was no response.

NBI investigator Job Gayas explained that the rebuff was not against the law since there was no warrant issued. And a warrant would only be issued with a formal complaint.

The NBI agents left after three failed attempts to speak with someone in the Manalo house.

Quiet and still

The rain poured late in the afternoon, sending the waiting news people and police officers to their cars parked nearby.

When the rain stopped, residents dressed in their Sunday best would cross the street and stand in front of the compound.

Could they be the supporters Angel had called for? It did not appear to be the case. The well-dressed would take a jeep or a tricycle, perhaps to the church for that day's "samba."

Meanwhile, the Iglesia ni Cristo said that the church had turned its attention back to the closing of its centennial celebrations.

In an interview with GMA News Online, Edwil Zabala, the church's spokesman, said it was unlikely that any further action would be taken given that they were "very busy" with the preparations for the weekend's unity games.

Zabala added that their previous statement was a "sufficient" response to Angel's allegations. "He damaged himself already," he concluded. — DVM, GMA News