LIBEL CHARGES VERSUS EX-INC MINISTERS
TWO former ministers of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) church are facing libel and unjust vexation charges before the Olongapo City Prosecutors’ Office.
INC District Minister Emilio De Leon Santiago, also referred to as the “Tagapangasiwa” of the INC in the district, has lodged a formal complaint against Eliodoro “Joy” Yuson for the latter’s July 24, 2015 interview by ABS-CBN DzMM’s Karen Davila.
Also basis of Santiago’s complaint was Yuson’s August 12, 2015 post on his website joselakas.wordpress.com, which, like the DzMM interview revelations of Yuson, allegedly disparaged his personal being as an INC minister.
“…ang mga ministro po ngayon na nasa posisyon ay makikita niyo na nakahilera sa kanilang bahay(,) ang iba’y itinago na ngayon mula ng sila ay mabulgar, nakahilera at paiba iba ang mga luxury cars,” Yuson said according to the complaint. “Ang kanilang mga asawa ay mga signature ang suot na mga damit, mga bags, na nagkakahalaga ng P30,000, P100,000, P500,000 bags pa lang,” the complaint said.
Santiago said Yuson’s allegations has caused him and his family to lose the respect and friendship of many INC members. “Pinaratangan pa ako ng ilang mga kapatid na ako daw bilang ministro ay isang corrupt, at ako ay ikinahihiya nila sa aming distrito dahil sa masamang ipinaratang sa akin ni Mr. Yuson bilang ministro, he said, “Maging ang aking mga anak ay laging tumatawag sa akin ng masama ang loob at umiiyak sapagkat sila daw ay laging tinutukso at nilalaiit ng kanilang mga kaibigan.”
Meanwhile, Herminio N. Datu, district president of the Society of Communications and Networkers (SCAN) International filed his own complaint against another former INC minister Lowell Menorca II, in connection with an ABS-CBN report where Menorca identified SCAN as an “armed group” and “mga hitman” of INC.
“Sila ung gagawa ng kung ano man ang kailangan gawa. Kung iyan ay pagdukot, pagpatay, dahil ang paniwala nila ito ay may masamang ginawa sa iglesia,” Menorca allegedly said in the ABS-CBN interview.
Datu said SCAN is a group for radio enthisiasts which aims to help and save lives, among others.
“Dahil sa nasabing paratang at malisyosong pahayag ni Menorca, ako, bilang kilalang miyembro ng SCAN sa aming lugar, ay nilait at napahiya sa aking mga kakilala,” Datu said in his complaint, “Maging sa larangan ng paghahanapbuhay, ay nagkaroon din ng malaking epekto ang ginawang paninira ni Menorca sa SCAN. Ang dating maraming mga kliyente namin sa kumpanya ay unti-unti ng nawala dahil ayaw raw nilang makipagtransaction sa amin dahil natatakot sila sapagkat ako raw ay kabilang sa HIT SQUAD… ayaw daw nila makipag hanap buhay sa mga kriminal.”
Together, Santiago and Datu filed their respective complaints before 2nd Asst. City Prosecutor Evangeline V. Tiongson, accompanied by Lawyer Randy Escolango, over 50 symphatizers and SCAN members.
Similar complaints are expected to be filed against Menorca ang Yuson all over the country, according to an INC who asked not to be named for lack of authority to speak on the matter. (VVV)
