THE former editor of the Iglesia Ni Cristo’s official publication was slapped with a libel suit before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office following his expulsion from the influential church.
Former “Pasugo” editor Isaias Samson Jr. was slapped with the libel complaint after he, his family and and other members of the church raised a public ruckus last week by claiming that they were illegally detained because of their criticism of corruption in the church.
Iglesia ni Cristo spokesman Edwil Zabala declined to confirm or deny the filing of the complaint, saying he was concentrating on the church’s celebration of its anniversary on Monday.
Meanwhile, a US-based minister of the Iglesia ni Cristo resigned after he refused to read a church circular announcing the expulsion of Felix Nathaniel “Ka Angel” Manalo, the brother of Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo, and their mother Cristina Manalo or Tenny.
The expulsion of the mother and brother, as well as of several others, came following allegations of corruption in the church, a power struggle and an internal family conflict.
Louie Cayabyab told dzMM radio his conscience did not allow him to obey the order of the central office to read the circulars on the expulsion of Angel and Tenny and Samson, who is also an INC minister aside from being editor in chief of Pasugo.
“It was against my heart. It was difficult for me,” Cayabyab said.
He expressed fear for the lives of his family, saying they’d had to go away and hide.
Like Samson, he said, he also expected to be expelled from the church.
Cayabyab announced his resignation during a recent worship service in Fremont, Northern California.
“I decided, brothers, that I would not read the circulars. I knew in my heart, in my heart of hearts, that I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t take it,” Cayabyab said in a six-minute video uploaded on Youtube.
Zabala said the central temple was not yet aware of Cayabyab’s move as the church officials had been busy as the INC marked its 101st anniversary on Sunday.
Samson claimed he was placed under house arrest on July 16 to July 23 on the suspicions he was running the blog “Iglesia ni Cristo no More”•Silent no More” in the account name of one Antonio Ramirez Ebangelista.
Samson and his family were also expelled when he accused Glicerio Santos Jr., INC’s general auditor, of diverting the church’s tithes into the bank accounts of the Felix Y. Manalo Foundation of which Santos was president.
He said the influential church was insolvent.