MANILA – The months-long strife within the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) appears to be simmering after two children of the late INC leader Eraño Manalo earlier at odds with the sect’s council and their brother Eduardo – now the executive minister – appealed to the Philippine Red Cross for help, saying a “state of siege” in their compound had created a humanitarian crisis.

A letter from Felix Nathaniel “Ka Angel” Manalo and Lolita “Lottie” Manalo-Hemedez to Sen. Richard Gordon in his capacity as chairman and CEO of the Red Cross sought the PRC’s intervention for them to have “immediate access” to the basic needs of food, water, electricity and medicine.

The Manalo siblings said “the lack of clean water inside our home, has contributed to poor sanitary conditions and has become  a health hazard.”

They added that, “because of the State of Siege for the last 4 months, that has been imposed upon us by our brother Eduardo V. Manalo, supplies of our basic necessities have been limited. Our movements inside the compound are being controlled by his private security personel who have been illegally and forcibly posted inside our compound.”

They decried the inaction of Commission on Human Rights Chairman Chito Gascon on their pleas for help, saying it “forced our families to live under inhumane conditions.”

The siblings have been staying in the sprawling compound adjacent to the INC’s main headquarters in Quezon City. “While we know the property were we are residing for the past 40 years is ours, it is still the subject of an ownership claim erroneously made by the Iglesia ni Cristo. They have boarded windows with corrugated sheets, like a steel fence around our home to restrict our movement.”

They said armed men surround them, and “constantly harass us with their menacing stares and drawn long firearms. Our compound looks worse than the Muntinlupa Bilibid Prison and we live like prisoners in our own home.”

Furthermore, the siblings told Gordon, “we have been refused to this day, the right to confer with our lawyers, relatives and friends. This unfortunate situation and unchristian act would not have been allowed by INC’s previous leaders, our late grandfather Ka Felix Y. Manalo and our late father & INC Executive Minister Erano ” Ka Erdy ” G. Manalo, most especially if they were alive today.”

Ka Angel and Lolita wondered aloud, “how can one Church be so powerful, that it can defy the laws of our land? How can human suffering be ignored and rights abused, simply because we are fighting for our right to stay in our property?”

Source: http://newscentral.ph/breaking-news/manalo-kids-seek-assistance-gordon/

http://interaksyon.com/article/134584/manalo-siblings-seek-red-cross-help-claim-state-of-siege-at-inc-compound

Manalo kids seek assistance of Gordon

Felix Nathaniel “Angel” Manalo and Lottie Manalo, estranged siblings of Iglesia Ni Cristo Executive Minister Eduardo V. Manalo, have written Senator and Red Cross Chairman Richard Gordon to seek his humanitarian assistance in alleviating their current living conditions at the disputed No. 36 Tandang Sora residence in Quezon City.

In their letter, the two Manalo children cited the alleged inhumane conditions being imposed upon them and their household staff such as the limitation of food and water supplies, cutting of electricity and water supplies and the setting up of high walls of corrugated sheets around their respective homes and around their compound.

They also claimed that their freedom of movement and right to meet with their counsel Atty. Rene Saguisag have allegedly been impeded by the security positioned around the compound.

The Manalo children have also sought the assistance of the Commission on Human Rights in the past which may have made arrangements with the INC legal department on a resolution only to be given the run around until the resolution seemed to have just vanished in thin air, rendering the CHR powerless against the whims of this giant institution.

As of now, the homes of former Executive Minister Erano D. Manalo and other relatives living in the compound have been demolished by the INC.

Supporters of Angel and Lottie have been providing food, water and medicines for Manalo and household staff. But they have been allegedly prevented by strict security policies enforced by the INC.

Currently, the property is being claimed by both Lottie Manalo Hemedez and the INC.

The same letter sought the immediate assistance of the Red Cross based on humanitarian grounds to alleviate the conditions within the compound where electricity and water utilities have been absent for nearly four months.

This despite an order from a Quezon City Judge to transfer the possession of the meters for the immediate re-connection of the basic services.

Gordon, who is busy with the Senate hearing on alleged drug lord Kerwin Espinosa, has yet to comment or act on the letter.

Source: https: //newsmeph.wordpress.com/2016/11/23/angel-and-lottie-manalo-asks-red-cross-help-against-inc-siege/

http://newscentral.ph/breaking-news/manalo-kids-seek-assistance-gordon/

Will the Philippine Red Cross heed the call?

What exactly does the Philippine Red Cross stand for? Let’s look at their FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES as stated in their website:

Source: http://www.redcross.org.ph/fundamental-principles

The Philippine Red Cross is considered apolitical and unbiased towards race, religion, and ideology. Their core principle is to prevent and alleviate human suffering wherever and whenever it may be found. Given this prime motivator, there should be no hesitation nor hindrance for Sen. Richard “Dick” Gordon to dispense his duties and to expedite the resources of the Philippine Red Cross in aid of humanitarian efforts against the oppression in #36 Tandang Sora, Quezon City.

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is the world’s largest humanitarian network. The Movement is neutral and impartial and provides protection and assistance to people affected by disasters and conflicts. Red Cross volunteers worldwide embody their mission and vision wherever they may be would not hesitate when the dire call for help comes, they would even risk their own lives just to help others. They are truly the unsung heroes of humanity. https://www.icrc.org/en/document/syria-crisis-winter-refugees-lebanon-lebanese-red-cross

I truly hope that integrity and honor still flow in Sen. Richard “Dick” Gordon’s blood, the way it has always been ever since he started in Public Service many years ago. And it shouldn’t matter if he has been endorsed by the INC during the elections for it was a political advantage for any politician. But this time, his service is once again being summoned, not as a politician, but as a humanitarian, as a decent human being who has the means and the capacity to help… Will he help the oppressed? Will he come to the aid of the helpless? Will he set aside any political string in order to properly and fully discharge his duty to those who are suffering and in distress? What happens next will forever be written in the annals of history… for where others dared not walk, only but a few chose to trek… the road less traveled.

May God give you the strength and the resilience to follow your conscience to answer the call…

~ Antonio Ramirez Ebangelista