After big Iglesia ni Cristo rally, ‘avid’ De Lima supporter shows up on Padre Faura

Days after the massive gathering of protesting Iglesia ni Cristo members outside the Department of Justice (DOJ) office in Manila, a 67-year-old man appeared in the area on Tuesday to silently show his support for Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.

Carrying a cardboard containing words he scribbled, Jose Kwe expressed his support for De Lima, who earned the ire of Iglesia ni Cristo members for allegedly meddling in their internal affairs.

Kwe said he first picketed outside the DOJ main office along Padre Faura Street on Monday afternoon but realized it was a holiday, National Heroes' Day, so he decided to return the following day.

In his placard, Kwe wrote: "H'wag kang matakot Sec. Leila Dilemma. Di tulad ni Poncio Pilato, h'wag mong isuko si Samson sa mga bagong Pariseo at sa mga bulag na tagasunod."

Kwe was referring to former Iglesia ni Cristo minister Isaias Samson, who has filed a complaint against several Iglesia ni Cristo leaders before the DOJ.

"Keep up the good work! You're not violating the Constitution. Sila ang nanghihimasok sa gawain ng DOJ," Kwe's poster read.

"Gusto nilang ipakita na kaya nilang diktahan ang gobyerno natin. Kaya tameme ang mga politikong trapo na ipatupad ang kaayusan kasi mag-eeleksyon na," it added.

Kwe ended his message by recalling Judas Iscariot's betrayal of Jesus Christ in the Bible. "30 pieces of silver. Mukhang may maghu-Hudas na ikompromiso ang hustisya."

De Lima's name was noticeably spelled wrongly in Kwe's placard as "Dilemma."

"I did this on purpose because she is currently [with] dilemma. Under pressure siya," the Navotas resident told GMA News Online.

Deal or no deal?

Kwe said he is also curious about what had been discussed during a meeting between ranking government officials, including President Benigno Aquino III, and the Iglesia ni Cristo leadership, which resulted in the protesters finally and voluntarily dispersing after five days of massing up, first outside the DOJ office in Manila and then at EDSA-Shaw in Mandaluyong City.

Both the Palace and De Lima have insisted that no deal was struck between the Palace and the Iglesia ni Cristo, a politically influential group known for its bloc voting during elections.

"Ano kaya ang naging usapan na iyan? It's either i-pressure or para i-delay ang kaso. Pero kung sinasabi nila na wala daw deal, eh 'di dapat tuloy ang kaso at lumakad at magkaroon ng arraignment," said Kwe, who said he was a civil engineer.

Kwe was referring to criminal cases filed last week before the DOJ against officials and members of the Iglesia ni Cristo for alleged illegal detention, coercion and grave threat. The complaint was filed by a former minister.

The Iglesia ni Cristo protesters insisted that De Lima and the DOJ should not be meddling in their affair, an accusation the Justice secretary and the Palace have denied.

Kwe admitted being an avid supporter of De Lima, even in her days as chair of the Commission on Human Rights under the Arroyo administration.

"Ituloy niya lang dapat ang trabaho niya. Nasa tamang proseso siya wala siyang kinakampihan," said Kwe. —KBK, GMA News