INC defamation case vs. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation junked

A Canadian court has dismissed a defamation case filed by the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) against a broadcasting corporation over publications alleging corruption and other crimes after the religious group repeatedly failed to comply with court orders.

Justice Kenneth Champagne of the Court of King’s Bench-Winnipeg Centre wrote the ruling in the case against the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).

“This is an extreme case of repeated non-compliance with the Rules. I have concluded there is no likelihood that the plaintiffs would comply with further court orders. Therefore, the extraordinary but appropriate remedy is to dismiss the action,” Champagne said in a ruling dated February 7, 2025.

“In addition, I strike the plaintiff’s claim without leave to amend as the claim is an abuse of the process of the court,” he added.

He also found that the INC used court processes to silence its critics and employed a “litigation strategy designed to waste resources.”

“Whoever is calling the shots for INC has previously made a determined effort to use the court process to silence their critics. The totality of evidence supports one conclusion: INC continues to engage in this litigation strategy,” Champagne said.

“This conduct is unacceptable and reprehensible as it diminishes the court’s integrity and undermines confidence in the administration of justice,” he added.

Sought for reaction, INC spokesman Edwil Zabala told GMA News Online, "Kung may ipinasasabi ay ipararating ko. Sa ngayon ay wala pa naman."

In a statement, co-defendant and former Evangelical worker Lowell Menorca II said the ruling was not only a victory but a “beacon of hope” for all those who suffered under the “oppressive tactics” of the INC.

“This is a pivotal moment for all Filipinos who believe in justice, good governance, and the separation of church and state,” he said.

“Let us stand together to expose and reject the hypocrisy of a leader who preaches love while spreading hate—even toward his own family. Let us demand accountability, transparency, and integrity from both our religious and political leaders,” he added.

In February 2019, six INC members filed the case against the CBC after it released a series of publications that disclosed allegations of financial corruption, kidnapping, and murder against the INC in October and November 2018.

Other defendants in the case include Menorca, former Minister Rolando Dizon, and former INC member Liezl De Ocampo. They provided information and appeared in the CBC publications.

The defendants said the publications are true, the information given to the public was fair commentary on matters of public interest, and the information was ''responsible communication.''

In his ruling, Champagne noted that the plaintiff — the complainants in the case — continuously failed to meet their discovery obligations and ignored the requests of the defendants and the orders from the court.

''The defendants have been requesting the production of all relevant documents from the plaintiffs since June 2021. The requests have been ignored. I have directed the plaintiffs to produce all relevant documents, and my directions have been ignored," Champagne said.

He also said that the INC failed to produce one document that specifically relates to Dizon, who was a member for 13 years.

“That is unacceptable, and it speaks volumes about the intentions of the plaintiffs to abide by the court rules for documentary disclosure. I do not hesitate in concluding the plaintiffs have undertaken a deliberate course of conduct designed to thwart the rules of documentary disclosure,” Champagne said.

He said that another “unacceptable conduct” relates to Menorca.

Champagne said that it directed the plaintiffs to provide a decision about their intention to proceed against Menorca. Months later, the court found that the INC indicated that it would no longer continue the legal action against him.

“It was only on October 16, 2024, after INC satisfied themselves that Menorca was truly bankrupt, that they indicated through counsel that they would no longer proceed against him,” he said.

“This action is not about damages or an apology; it is about punishing and silencing the critics of INC.”

Champagne also noted deficiencies in the testimony of Brother Rvy Medicielo, whom the plaintiffs presented during the examination for discovery, where one party asks an opposing party questions about the issues in the case, as he occupied a senior position in INC Alberta.

However, Champagne said that Medicielo “was nothing more than a sacrificial lamb.”

“He knew little, if anything, about matters in this litigation,” he said.

“His knowledge was based on what had been publicly reported. He had no knowledge about the six corporate plaintiffs, was unable to identify individuals who held leadership roles within INC, and he had no knowledge of the individuals identified in the CBC publications," he added.

''As for documentary disclosure, Brother Rvy could not explain the financial structure or financial policies of INC.'' 

Champagne said the ''active defendants'' are ''entitled to costs'' related to the case. —VBL, GMA Integrated News