Missing INC minister surfaces, claims TV interview was scripted
MANILA - Missing Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) Minister Lowell Menorca said in a video posted online Friday that he was illegally detained at the INC central compound in Quezon City from July 25 to October 21, 2015.
Menorca also revealed that the interview aired on Net 25 where he denied that he was being detained was scripted.
According to Menorca, he and his family were placed in a controlled environment by INC authorities. He was interrogated about the blog posts of a certain "Antonio Ebangelista."
"Kaya po nila ginawa 'yun sapagka't ginamit nila ang pagkakataon na 'yun na alisin ako sa kulungan, ilagay ako sa isang controlled environment na kung saan maaari nila akong puntahan anytime, kausapin, i-interrogate, at makuha nila 'yung mga impormasyon na gusto nilang makuha mula sa akin patungkol sa mga panulat ni Antonio Ebanghelista," Menorca said in the online video.
When the INC controversy broke out in July, Menorca was reported missing. However, the allegations were later denied by Menorca in his interview with Net 25.
In the new video posted online, Menorca refuted his previous statements and claimed that he and his family were detained. He said his previous statement on Net 25 was scripted as he had been "briefed" by INC officials, including Roland Esguerra, Eraño "Erdz" Codera, Edwil Zabala, Weng de la Fuente and TJ Orosa.
“Lahat ng narinig ninyo at sa iba pang interview, lahat po 'yun ay scripted," Menorca claimed in the online video.
Menorca's video surfaced online hours after the Supreme Court (SC) granted on Friday the writs of habeas corpus and amparo filed by Menorca's kin.
Menorca's brother, Anthony, and sister-in-law, Jungko Otsuka, on Tuesday filed a petition for the issuance of writs of habeas corpus and amparo before the SC, claiming that Menorca was abducted and illegally detained upon the orders of key officials of the religious sect.
In an order promulgated Friday, the SC directed respondents INC Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo and members of the Sanggunian, Radel Cortez, Bienvenido Santiago and Rolando Esguerra, to produce the warm bodies of Lowell Menorca; his wife, Jinky Otsuka; the couple's child, Yurie; and their house help Abegail Yanson.
A writ of habeas corpus is a remedy sought on behalf of any person who is imprisoned or restrained of his liberty. A writ of amparo is a remedy available to any person whose right to life, liberty and security is violated or threatened.
The order remanded the case to the Court of Appeals (CA) for hearing, and a verified return of the writs was ordered within 10 working days.
The SC ordered the CA to hear the petition on November 3, 2015, at 3 pm, and decide the case within 10 days upon its submission for decision/resolution.
