The Iglesia Ni Cristo has hinted at an evil plot to discredit the church and its leaders even as the INC rejected allegations of irregularities in the handling of cash donations from abroad.
Spokesperson Edwil Zabala, who on Thursday categorically denied charges that the INC owns a multi-million-dollar Airbus 330-202, which the leadership has supposedly been using for trips abroad.
Zabala named two expelled ministers Isaias Samson Jr. and Vincent Florida as the accusers.
Samson and Florida accused the INC leaders of irregularities in the handling of cash donations from United States-based local churches, which are then deposited in offshore accounts in the Cayman Islands and in Switzerland. Samson alleged that the cash was brought there using planes supposedly owned by the INC. A news article had earlier alleged that the INC leadership owns an Airbus 330-202 and a Boeing executive jet that cost between P8.8 billion ($200 million) and P11 billion ($250 million).
“If Samson can prove that the Church owns an Airbus 330-202, or any other airplane for that matter, then he can have it,” Zabala said.
Zabala also made a similar challenge to Samson and Florida concerning the alleged offshore accounts in the Cayman Islands and in the Switzerland. He said that church leaders are willing to sign a waiver to allow the two or any investigator of their choice to inquire into the proper authorities in the Cayman Islands and in Switzerland.
Zabala maintained that the INC has very stringent audit protocols that enabled the church to pass strict requirements for a tax-exempt status in the United States.
“We follow protocols for the deposit of cash collections. We also have very stringent audit procedures, otherwise the church will not be granted tax-exempt status by the US government,” he earlier said.
Zabala added that the offerings of church members are properly audited and go to the construction of churches, as well as to the INC’s various socio-civic activities. He said that more than 800 churches have been constructed in different parts of the world under the leadership of Executive Minister Eduardo V. Manalo.
The minister said that church is saddened by the recent round of defamatory statements from Samson and Florida. The two were expelled from the Church last July.
Zabala added, however, that the INC suspects that Samson and other ex-ministers that have relentlessly attacked the church, “may be part of a systematic, planned effort to discredit the church.”
“This is a tragedy unto itself, given the good outreach work the church has undertaken for members and non-members alike,” added Zabala. “The INC and its members have done nothing to deserve this, and we appeal to the public to be wary of negative accusations that have no basis in law, in fact, and in truth—and are merely meant to sow confusion and destroy an institution that means the world to its members.”