I.N.C. STORMS D.O.J.
Singing “Why, Why, Why, De Lima” to the tune of Tom Jones' hit single “Delilah,” angry members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) yesterday greeted Justice Secretary Leila de Lima with a large protest action on her 56th birthday in front of the Department of Justice, denouncing what they described as double-standard brand of justice.
They even tried to block her car from leaving the DOJ premises.
The INC members cited in particular De Lima’s special interest in personally overseeing the filing of illegal detention charges against the entire membership of the church's “Sanggunian” but turning a blind eye on other important cases.
Last Wednesday, the INC issued a press statement also denouncing De Lima for giving more attention to the case filed by Isaias Samson Jr., the former editor of the official INC publication “Pasugo,” instead of other more important issues like the massacre of 44 members the Philippine National PoliceSpecial Action Force (PNP-SAF) in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, last January.
Samson had earlier lodged before the Department of Justice (DOJ) a string of criminal complaints against the members of their church's Sanggunian for alleged threats and harassment.
Carrying placards which read, among other, “Mas maraming isyu ang dapat unahin, huwag ang pakikialam sa amin” and “Malabo yata kay De Lima ang gobyerno at Iglesia,” the INC crowd started to swell along the stretch of Padre Faura Street at around 3 p.m. yesterday.
The INC protesters, however, declined to give interviews to members of media.
But in a statement read by Ka Bienvenido C. Santiago, general evangelist of the INC, last Wednesday, the politically influential church assailed De Lima for showing special interest in the church squabble.
In the statement read by Santiago, the INC was looking for answers why De Lima was displaying special interest in the case.
In the same statement, the INC said the zealousness of De Lima in pursuing the complaint against the church leaders was never seen on the case of the SAF44.
Senior Supt. Marcelino Pedroso, Manila Police DistrictDistrict Public Safety Battalion (MPD-DPSB) head, said the INC members were allowed to hold the rally because they were able to secure a permit.
But De Lim said: “Kahit isang sakong permit pa ang hawak nila, hindi dapat pinayagan ng pulis na harangan ang gate ng national government office (Even if they have a sack of permits, police should not have allowed them to block the gate of a national government office).” (With a report from Francis T. Wakefield)