DOJ sets prelim probe for crime raps vs. Iglesia leaders

More than two months after former Iglesia ni Cristo minister Isaias Samson Jr. filed his complaint, the Department of Justice (DOJ) is set to start its preliminary investigation on his alleged harassment and illegal detention by the church's officials.

 

Trixie Cruz-Angeles, counsel of Samson, said the DOJ set the preliminary investigation on Friday at 2 p.m., following a "motion to set hearing" filed last week.

 

Making up the panel of prosecutors probing the criminal complaint filed by Samson are Assistant State Prosecutor Olivia Torrevillas, ASP Mark Roland Estepa and Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Theodore Villanueva.

 

Named respondents in Samson's complaint were Glicerio Santos Jr, head of the Sanggunian, the highest administrative council of the Iglesia Ni Cristo; Radel Cortez, Bienvenido Santiago Sr, Mathusalem Pareja, Rolando Esguerra, Erano Codera, Rodelio Cabrera and Maximo Bularan.

 

Samson's complaint

 

In the complaint he filed in August, Samson said on July 15, 2015, the head of Iglesia Ni Cristo's human resources office asked for this passport, as well as the passports of his wife and son, supposedly to be examined for an ongoing investigation within the church. 

 

Samson said the respondents also went to his office at the Iglesia Ni Cristo Central Office in Commonwealth, Quezon City, to tell him he was being held "under house arrest." 

 

He said some of the respondents forced their way into his residence and forcibly took his home computer, his phone and office computer, his son's phone and laptop, as well as their service vehicle. 

 

"This made my family and me feel no different from a common criminal who is under arrest and being taken to attend court hearings, or anywhere for that matter, by armed policemen," said Samson in his complaint, adding that he and his family had been prohibited from going out of their residence. 

 

Issue within Iglesia

 

Samson said the Sanggunian had repeatedly accused him of being Antonio Ramirez Ebanghelista, who runs a blog that exposed supposed irregularities within the church. 

 

He said on July 22, Samson dropped by their house and told him he would be interviewed on TV. He said he was told to deny reports of the abduction of several Iglesia Ni Cristo ministers, which by then had just gone public through the media. 

 

Samson said he was also instructed to deny that he and his family were being held against their will. He said the following day, on July 23, he and his family escaped by telling the guards manning their home that they were attending worship service. 

 

Samson later held a press conference where he made allegations of irregularities within the religious organization.

 

Following the filing of Samson's complaint, Iglesia Ni Cristo members began massing outside the DOJ to urge then-Justice Secretary Leila de Lima not to "meddle" in church affairs. The protesters later proceeded to EDSA-Shaw to continue their protest movement.

 

Angeles disbarment sought

 

Meanwhile, the mother of Abegail Yanson on Thursday filed an administrative complaint-affidavit with the Supreme Court to seek the disbarment of Angeles.

 

Angeles is also the legal counsel for another former Iglesia Ni Cristo minister Lowell Menorca II, who employs Abegail as a househelp.

 

Rosalie Yanson accused Angeles of violating her oath as a lawyer for "continuously detaining her daughter."

 

The day before, Rosalie had already filed a serious illegal detention complaint against Menorca and his wife Jingky, also for holding Abegail against her will.

 

"Respondent Trixie Angeles has committed gross misconduct and has violated her oath as a lawyer. It is but imperative that she be disbarred from the Roll of Attorneys. Her actuations and conduct clearly fall short of the high standard of moral and professional character required of lawyers," read the administrative complaint.

 

Rosalie recounted an incident during a Court of Appeals hearing on a plea from Menorca for the issuance of writs of amparo and habeas corpus. Rosalie said she tried hugging her daughter, who she has never seen for some time, but Angeles, the Menorcas and their guards "forcibly pulled [her] away from Abegail and harshly shoved her away from the rest of the group."

 

Rosalie said Angeles already knew that the Menorcas were detaining her daughter but still the lawyer helped and aided the Menorcas to prevent her from being with her daughter.

 

"It is as clear as daylight that Atty. Trixie Angeles lied through her teeth before the CA when she gave a twisted account of what transpired during the recess," she added.

 

Sought for reaction on the disbarment plea, Angeles told reporters in a text message: "It is best that Abegail herself respond to this as she is the alleged victim." —KBK, GMA News