VP Binay to public: We must listen to explanation of Iglesia leaders

Vice President Jejomar Binay on Monday urged the public not to jump into conclusion in connection with accusations of abduction being levelled against officials of the Iglesia Ni Cristo.

“Tumatalon na tayo, tumitingala na kayo na may conviction samantalang wala pa naman. Allegations pa lang iyan. It must have to be proven, we must listen to the explanation [of Iglesia Ni Cristo officials],” said Binay during the Philippine Business Conference and Expo held in Pasay City.

The opposition coalition's standard bearer in the 2016 elections also likened himself with the leaders of the politically influential religious group, saying like him, they are victims of “demolition by perception.”

“Ako nga biktima niyan, mga bintang-bintang, demolition by perception. So, huwag naman tayo mag-jump [to conclusion] kaagad. Husgado lang ang magsasabi kung may kasalanan o wala,” said Binay, a lawyer.

“May paliwanag naman din ang INC. Ihandle lang ng with the rule of law, hindi iyong the rule by law,” he added.

Binay, a subject of a year-long Senate probe, is facing graft and plunder graft charges over allegations of corruption during his term as mayor of Makati City.

On Sunday, former Iglesia Ni Cristo minister Lowell Menorca emotionally faced the media to narrate his alleged abduction and detention inside the church’s central compound for three months.

Menorca said he began fearing for his family's safety when he was supposedly kidnapped in Sorsogon last July. He said from Sorsogon, he was brought by car to Dasmariñas, Cavite, in handcuffs by men whom he identified to be police officers.

Menorca was then detained at the Dasmariñas Police Station for allegedly threatening commuters with a hand grenade. He was released on July 25 after the complainants who filed the case against him signed affidavits of desistance.

A week after his release from jail, Menorca surfaced with his family and denied that they were abducted and held against their will.

But in a video released last week, Menorca recanted his earlier statement and said that he was detained at the Iglesia ni Cristo's central compound and interrogated about his knowledge of the controversial blog written by a certain Antonio Ebangelista, which details the supposed wrongdoing committed by some church leaders.

In a statement sent to GMA News, lawyer Patricia-Ann Prodigalidad of the ACCRA law office said officials of the Iglesia ni Cristo were surprised and saddened by the statements issued by Menorca.
 
"They will address the allegations of Mr. Menorca in the proper venue, and are confident that if treated fairly by authorities, they will be given due process and the opportunity to establish their innocence and to clear their names," Prodigalidad said. —Kathrina Charmaine Alvarez/KBK, GMA News