Isaias Samson's lawyers: Be transparent on 'agreement' with Iglesia ni Cristo

The legal counsels of former Iglesia ni Cristo minister Isaias Samson called on President Benigno Aquino III and Interior Secretary Mar Roxas to be transparent with the alleged agreement the government made with the religious group.

 

In a statement on Monday, lawyers Trixie Cruz-Angeles and Ahmed Paglinawan asked about the nature of the alleged agreement, and why their client, "who had unintentionally set off these events by filing his case," was not included in it.

 

"Tell us whether or not you've sold our client down the river... you need to disclose this to us. A criminal case is not a political pawn," they wrote.

 

The lawyers also asked the government to "guarantee our client a fair hearing at preliminary investigation," saying that finding the case filed by Samson to have no probable cause is now "a very real possibility."

 

They also said that the announcement made by Iglesia ni Cristo on the matter is a way for them "to make the public feel that they had flexed their muscle and the government has responded in a manner favorable to them."

 

The religious group ended its protest that took over EDSA on Monday morning, after talks between the church's leaders and government officials. 

 

As the protesting crowd on EDSA grew on Sunday night, Aquino convened his Cabinet at his residence at Bahay Pangarap.

 

Reports quoted Iglesia ni Cristo spokesman Edwil Zabala as saying that he was not yet privy to what was discussed between the church and the government because he was onsite for the protest along EDSA. —Rose-An Jessica Dioquino/ALG, GMA News