The Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) on Monday, August 31, ended their 5-day protest against the government’s supposed interference with internal church matters, saying they have reached an understanding with the Aquino administration.
“Nais po naming ipabatid sa inyong lahat na nagkausap na po ang panig ng Iglesia at ng panig ng pamahalaan at sa pag-uusap na ito ay nagkapaliwanagan na po ang dalawang panig. Kaya payapa na po ang lahat,” Bienvenido Santiago, INC general evangelist, said in a video statement posted online Monday morning (Sunday in Vancouver).
(Translation: We’d like to inform you all that both the Iglesia and the government have spoken to each other and clarified matters. So all is well.)
“Ito pong ating isinagawang mapayapang pagtitipon na sinimulan natin noong Huwebes nang hapon ay natatapos na po nang mapayapa rin ngayon pong Lunes ng umaga,” Santiago said.
(Translation: Our peaceful gathering, which we started last Thursday afternoon, is ending peacefully this Monday morning.)
Eagle News, a news group owned by the INC, said that the religious group reached an “agreement” with the government.
“Iglesia Ni Cristo General Evangelist Bro. Bienvenido Santiago announced the end of the 5-day peaceful assembly, saying that the Iglesia Ni Cristo and the government have come into peaceful agreement,” the group said in its website and YouTube channel.
A few hours later, Malacañang, in a statement, said that “[through]goodwill and the convergence of efforts, the rule of law has been upheld.”
“We appreciate the INC leadership’s directives for the withdrawal of their members from their gathering sites,” the statement, attributed to Palace spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, said.
Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, meanwhile said: “Noong mga nakaraang araw ay tahimik na nakipag-ugnayan ang pamahalaan sa mga lider ng INC. Naging pagkakataon ito upang magkaroon ng paglilinaw ukol sa mga isyu.”
(Translation: In the past few days, the government quietly coordinated with the INC leaders. This became an opportunity to clarify the issues.)
Both sides, so far, have not specified what kind of “understanding” was reached.
In their vigil, Iglesia members asked government to keep its hands off the illegal detention case filed by expelled Iglesia minister Isaias Samson. They also slammed the alleged bias of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, saying she was giving the case special attention. Samson’s lawyer Trixie Angeles said the DOJ has not even assigned a prosecutor to the case.
The DOJ is currently investigating the alleged abduction of several of the church’s ministers and members, allegedly upon the orders of the INC leadership.
