Amid allegations that the Iglesia Ni Cristo was employing a “private army” and “death squad” to threaten its members, Quezon City Department of Public Order and Safety Chief Gen. Elmo San Diego on Wednesday cautioned against making hasty conclusions about the supposed existence of such armed groups without proof.
“The parties should be careful about making these claims because there’s a public order and safety element at stake here, one that affects not only the INC and its members but the general public as well,” warned San Diego.
Such accusations, according to San Diego, weaken confidence in the authorities and fuel conspiracy theories that undeservedly alarm the public.
“What do you think the reaction would be if someone says the government tolerates the presence of armed groups in your community? It creates undue fear and tension, and reduces confidence in our police and other law enforcement agencies. Let’s not unduly scare the public,” San Diego said.
The public order and safety official urged both camps in the INC issue to be more responsible in their statements, adding he would “strongly admonish anyone against raising the spectre of violence or the possibility of violence from supposed armed groups, especially if these statements are not substantiated by evidence.”
INC spokesperson Edwil Zabala, meanwhile, called on the INC membership to remain calm and continue their prayers.
“Rest assured that the Church leadership will face all the issues with dignity and with full confidence in the fairness of our justice system,” Zabala stressed.
The INC spokesperson likewise appealed for “open-mindedness, objectivity and understanding” from the general public, adding that people should be wary of “baseless speculation and reckless accusations” that “do not contribute to efforts to obtain justice for all those involved.”