With Rio N. Araja and Vito Barcelo
PHILIPPINE National Police chief Ricardo Marquez ordered an investigation Monday into allegations that Quezon City policemen abducted Lowell Menorca, a former minister of the Iglesia Ni Cristo.
Reacting to the allegations raised by Menorca on Sunday, Marquez said he would not hesitate to axe any policemen who participated in the abduction and the filing of trumped-up charges against the expelled INC minister.
“The cleansing in the PNP is a daily activity. We continue to make sure that appropriate actions are instituted, implemented against our people who are involved in any illegal activities,” Marquez said.
He added that he would have the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group study the CCTV footage from the Iglesia Ni Cristo Central Compound in Quezon City, where Menorca said he and his family were held captive for three months.
Menorca said Sunday he was abducted from his church in Sorsogon by three Quezon City policemen and three heavily armed civilians, accosted by another policeman who threatened to shoot him dead, and taken to Dasmariñas, Cavite, where he was jailed on a trumped-up charge for possession of an explosive device. It was after that, he said, that he was taken to the INC Central Compound and detained for three months.
He said he was later rescued by his lawyer from a safe house in Fairview, Quezon City, after the Supreme Court ordered the INC to produce him in response to a petition for a writ of habeas corpus filed by Menorca’s brother and his sister-in-law.
Trixie Angeles, Menorca’s lawyer, said she was receiving threats from unknown persons since she took his case.
“We will coordinate with the complainants. We will ask them to substantiate their allegations,” Marquez said.
Marquez said the PNP would spare no one found violating the law, regardless of religion.
“Religion has never been considered in the performance of duty. If somebody violates the law, then the PNP reacts accordingly. Enforce the law, maintain peace and order—that’s our mandate,” Marquez said.
National Capital Region Police Office Director Joel Pagdilao, who was head of the Quezon City Police District at the time of the abduction, said he knew nothing about allegations that Quezon City policemen were involved.
“This is the first time that I heard of such an incident,” he said.
A lawyer representing the INC denied Menorca’s accusations.
“Allegations are false, and we will prove them to be false. However, I am constrained by my lawyer’s oath not to discuss these publicly as they are sub judice.We trust the courts will act judiciously and
in a manner consistent with jurisprudence and the rule of law,” said Patricia Ann Prodigalidad of the Angara Abello Concepcion & Cruz Law Office.
The Court of Appeals Seventh Division is set to hear the habeas corpus and amparo case against leaders of the INC on Nov. 3, after the Supreme Court remanded it to the appellate court for hearing and resolution, in response to a petition filed by Menorca’s brother Anthony and his sister-in-law Jungko Otsuka.
The 7th Division, composed of Associate Justices Victoria Isabel Paredes, Magdangal De Leon and Elihu Ybañez, will receive the answers of the respondents—INC’s executive minister Eduardo Manalo and three members of their Sanggunian or Council, Radel Cortez, Bienvenido Santiago and Rolando Esguerra— who have also been commanded to produce before it the persons of Menorca and his immediate family.
Based on the Supreme Court writs of habeas corpus and amparo, the CA must also decide on the case within 10 days after hearing all sides.
In their petition last week, Anthony Menorca and Otsuka asked the Supreme Court to compel the INC leadership to release the minister and his immediate family from their custody.
They also asked the Court to enjoin the church leaders “from doing further harm and even from approaching or transacting” with their family.
The petitioners, through lawyer Angeles, alleged that Menorca was abducted on July 16 after leading a church service in Bulan, Sorsogon.
Angeles is also the lawyer of expelled minister Isaias Samson Jr., who earlier filed criminal charges of harassment, illegal detention, threats and coercion against members of the Sanggunian before the Justice Department.
Angeles confirmed that her clients were already released from INC custody, making the habeas corpus petition moot. But she said they would pursue the amparo petition where they sought issuance of a protection order.
A writ of amparo is a remedy available to any person whose right to life, liberty and security has been violated or threatened. A writ of habeas corpus, on the other hand, is a legal action sought on behalf of a person who has been unlawfully detained.
Vice President Jejomar Binay said Monday the government should handle the case based on the rule of law.
In a radio interview, Binay said INC leaders have not been convicted, and said that Menorca’s accusations, until proven, were all mere allegations.
“Let us not jump to conclusions,” Binay said.