2015 Iglesia ni Cristo leadership controversy

Angel and Tenny had reportedly been illegally detained at the Iglesia's Central Office Complex in Tandang Sora, Quezon City, and that at least ten ministers of the Church were missing and alleged to have been abducted.

[6] Menorca later fled to Canada and filed for refugee status, which was granted in 2018, with the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada stating: "When the panel considers the links between the INC and the law enforcement authorities in the Philippines, the general climate of impunity that pervades Philippines law enforcement, particularly with respect to the issue of extrajudicial killing, and the level of corruption that exists in the Philippines government and law enforcement apparatus, the panel is satisfied Menorca would be unable to avail himself of state protection, from the risks that he fears in that country..."[7] On July 22, 2015, a video was uploaded to YouTube featuring Felix Nathaniel "Angel" Manalo, the brother to nominal INC leader Eduardo V. Manalo and a former general manager of Global Expansion Media Television (a terrestrial TV station broadcasting the INC's programs, now called INCTV), along with his mother, Cristina "Tenny" Villanueva Manalo, the widow of Eraño G.

[10] Santiago claimed that their video was a sympathy ploy to gather support to meddle in the leadership of the INC and that the INC administration was acting on the wishes of Eduardo V. Manalo to prevent discord in the Church.

Edwil Zabala, a spokesman for the INC, stated that the INC would consider having Tenny and Angel Manalo return to the Church if they would pledge to uphold and obey their teachings.

That's what we want to avoid" [18] On December 15, 2015, church guards prevented Manalo and his housekeepers from allowing members of the media to enter their ancestral house at 35 Tandang Sora Avenue, following the inspection of the sheriff of the Quezon City RTC.

He also accused the Quezon City Police Department of taking sides in the conflict by supporting the INC administration, and denying Angel and Tenny Manalo deliveries of food and water.

[29] In a press conference held July 23, INC minister Isaias Samson, Jr. cited Menorca's case alleging that the military had taken him from Sorsogon to Dasmariñas.

[33] Menorca released a video on October 23, 2015, a few days after he was allegedly rescued from abduction by the Sanggunian and the filing of writ of habeas corpus by his brother Anthony and sister-in-law Junko Azuka.

He held a press conference on July 23 confirming his own detention, stating that he and his family were placed under house arrest by the INC administration, with the involvement of military and police officials.

He was accused by INC leadership of being "Antonio Ebangelista," a pseudonym used by a minister who had written critical articles that revealed details on Church administration and Santos, a charge Samson denies.

On November 17, the Department of Justice dismissed the criminal case filed by Samson and fellow expelled member Lito de Luna Fruto against the INC leaders for lack of probable cause.

However, unearthed loan documents shows that Iglesia Ni Cristo, represented by Glicerio Santos Jr., the church's General Auditor and his son Atty.

[15] In a morning Sunday worship on July 26, INC executive minister Eduardo Manalo repeated that members should strictly follow the church's leadership and rules to attain salvation.

[53] Members of INC from 26 ecclesiastical districts picketed the Department of Justice office in Manila, when Secretary Leila de Lima, on her birthday, officially announced her 2016 senatorial bid.

[35] On August 1, 2015, Boyet Menorca, along with his wife and child, were interviewed in person outside the INC compound, wherein he denied all allegations of his abduction and pleaded for his brother to stop making claims.

"[6] On October 21, 2015, Lowell Menorca's brother Anthony petitioned the Supreme Court of the Philippines to issue writs of habeas corpus and amparo against the INC administration.

The request was granted and on October 25, Menorca stated that he was illegally detained by INC, kidnapped by police officers allegedly in INC's employ and had been interrogated for 17 hours.

[6] On January 20, 2016, on his way to the Court of Appeals to attend a hearing on the illegal detention case, policemen wearing civilian clothes and without badges led by Supt.

Ed Leonardo and INC member, arrested Menorca on libel charges filed by SCAN International (the INC's amateur communications and disaster relief arm) in Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte, in the southern Philippines.

Moises Tolentino Jr., a lawyer for the Iglesia ni Cristo responded that: "Beset by several libel suits and an adultery charge to boot, [Menorca] took the cowardly option.

They should face all opportunities that should be given to respondents..."[64] Menorca left Vietnam two weeks later and traveled to Thailand[65] planning to move to Seattle, Washington, since he had a valid United States visa, but because the rest of his family did not, he proceeded instead to seek asylum in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

He then filed an application for refugee status with the Government of Canada claiming that his life and that of his family members were threatened by the administration of the Iglesia ni Cristo.

"[68] Aedtnavye Juntilla “AJ” Lazo, who was accused by her husband of having an affair with Menorca, was arrested in Cebu on June 22, 2019, for her failure to attend the mandatory court hearing in her adultery case, according to authorities.

[78] Fruto, who was also an American citizen,[78] was initially under the witness protection program by the Philippine government in April 2015, as he claimed to have received threats due to his allegations against the INC leadership.

[79] In November 2015, he filed a complaint against members of the INC's top administrative body, the Sanggunian, accusing them of coercion, harassment, threats, and arbitrary detention.

In a statement, Menorca hailed him as 'one of the bravest people" he knew, adding, "We just lost a comrade at arms, this is a sad day for truth-loving Christians all over the world.

Danilo Patungan, a security guard for a condominium in Bonifacio Global City district of Taguig, Metro Manila, has been missing since leaving for work the afternoon of April 11, 2017.

[84] On April 20, 2017, Antonio Ebangelista, the pseudonymous blogger involved in leaking information regarding the internal structures of the INC, confirmed a radio report that a body found in Bustos, Bulacan north of Manila was that of Villocino.

[85] The Bulacan chapter of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) posted tarpaulin streamers with photographs of 20 mayors in the province greeting the church on its 101st anniversary.

[87] Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, on July 24, 2015 requested prayers for Iglesia members.