Iglesia ni Cristo members: ‘Why, why, why, De Lima?’

On the day Justice Secretary Leila de Lima announced her senatorial bid in 2016, members of the politically influential Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) slammed the justice chief in a rally in front of her agency.

Senior Superintendent Elmer Jamias, a police district director, said he would continue to negotiate for a “peaceful dispersal” of the INC members, while Abalos said he is still thinking whether or not to extend the rally permit.

The following INC Sanggunian members were named in the complaint: Glicerio B. Santos Jr., Radel.

“We hope that Secretary De Lima prioritize these cases instead of going around and campaigning early”, he told reporters.

The INC said the protest was also aimed at dispelling rumours of divisions within the church.

One of the tarpaulins said, “Malabo yata kay De Lima ang gobyerno at Iglesia“. They know that illegal detention is a serious crime which carries jail time.

It was still not clear when the protest would last, but according to Senior Supt.

INC leaders have called on church members to hold a vigil in front of the DOJ to make De Lima realize that she is messing with the wrong group when the department started a probe on the complaint of Samson. Another said it’s just their trip, while one participant said, “Si YayaDub talaga pinuntahan namin dito (We really wanted to see YayaDub)”, refering to a popular noontime reality TV character. “As the saying goes, ‘mukhang guilty, ‘” Angeles said.

The report noted: “Samson and his family claim that they were treated as prisoners in their own house at Tierra Bella, Quezon City for nine days”.

A member of the presidential communications group posted on Twitter a picture of President Benigno Aquino holding an emergency meeting on the protest late on Sunday with some cabinet members, police and military officers.

Mr. Binay said that while religious freedom is guaranteed by the constitution, the administration has chosen to “trample on this sacred right”, adding that the mass action “is an exercise of their right to assembly and free speech”.