Iglesia ni Cristo spokesman Edwil Zabala categorically rejected allegations by expelled ministers Isaias Samson Jr. and Vincent Florida that some officers of the church maintained personal and unauthorized offshore bank accounts in the Cayman Islands or in Switzerland, as well as charges that its leaders were skimming cash off member collections in the United States.
“We follow protocols for the deposit of cash collections. We also have very stringent audit procedures, otherwise the church would not be granted tax-exempt status by the US government,” Zabala said in a statement issued on Wednesday.
Zabala challenged Samson and Florida to prove that the church had offshore accounts in the Cayman Islands and in the Switzerland, going as far as saying that if Samson and Florida could prove that the alleged accounts exist, they could keep its contents.
“We are willing to sign a waiver; if they can prove that any of INC’s leaders have offshore accounts in the Cayman Islands or in Switzerland, they can have the cash in all of them.”
Samson, whose earlier complaint for serious illegal detention against the INC leaders was dismissed by the Department of Justice, alleged that there were irregularities in the handling of the Church’s funds in the US. Florida, an American former minister in the INC Northern Virginia congregation, said that he had reported the INC and the church leaders to the United States Internal Revenue Service for tax fraud.
However, IRS Special Agent Arlette Lee clarified that no cases had been filed against either INC Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo and Auditor Glicerio Santos Jr. in US Federal Court.
Zabala said that the INC could not remain silent in the face of the repeated defamatory statements from Samson and Florida, who were expelled from the church last July.
“We are deeply saddened by the allegations of Mr. Samson and Mr. Florida. We wanted to refrain from commenting on their baseless accusations, as we do not wish to dignify any further attempts to subject the Church to trial by media. However, we owe it to our flock and the public to forthrightly respond to these incredulous allegations,” he added.
Zabala said they will continue “to pray for the enlightenment of those who wish to sow divides within our church.”
He also appealed to the public not to engage in further speculation “that serves no other purpose than to fuel hatred and discrimination.”
Zabala added that the church leadership believes that in the end, the truth will prevail.
”Just as the government’s prosecution body has found Mr. Samson’s complaint for serious illegal detention without any basis, we are likewise confident that our leaders will be vindicated and that the truth shall prevail once more.”