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Re-post: Philippine Court of Appeals Strikes out Lowell Menorca II’s Raps vs INC

– February 9, 2016 – 9:00am

MANILA, Philippines – The Court of Appeals has ordered that allegations against Iglesia Ni Cristo leaders be stricken out of expelled minister Lowell Menorca II’s testimony in the writ of amparo case he filed against his former congregation.

Menorca’s allegations were “speculative, conjectural, argumentative, non-assertive of truth, have no relevance to the issues to be resolved… or opinions inadmissible as evidence,” the CA’s Seventh Division said in its ruling.

In a 42-page resolution penned by Associate Justice Victoria Isabela Paredes, the CA granted the plea in the opposition filed by INC Sanggunian or Council members Radel Cortez, Bienvenido Santiago and Rolando Esguerra  questioning entries in Menorca’s 53-page judicial affidavit.

Lowell R. Menorca II, in the middle of numerous libel, possession of grenade, adultery lawsuits, fled to Canada in March 2016 and sought Refugee Protection Status

The court specifically deleted the statement of the former minister that some of the respondents were “threatening us that the Church administration will not let us live once we get implicated with Antonio Ebanghelista,” referring to the fictitious blogger who publicly hurled allegations of anomalies against the INC leadership.

The CA has also stricken out Menorca’s statement pertaining to Manalo: “Bro. Mabasa talked to us inside our house and told us that the decision given by Bro. Eduardo Manalo was to give us another chance.”

Another piece of hearsay, the CA ruled, was Menorca’s claim that an INC official  told him that the same people who can send him to jail are the same ones who can make him disappear.

Associate Justices Magdangal de Leon and Elihu Ybanez concurred in this ruling promulgated last Jan. 13 but released only yesterday.

The respondents, through lawyer Patricia-Ann Prodigalidad, sought the deletion of the entries in Menorca’s affidavit in earlier hearings.

The CA justices have already approved the deletion of some of Menorca’ s statements, including his claim that he was “forcibly taken upon orders of the INC.” They said he “has no authority and personal knowledge” to make the claim.

The CA will continue its hearing on the amparo case on Feb.15. Menorca is expected to take the witness stand to detail his claims of abduction, harassment and illegal detention.

He was supposed to testify on Jan. 20, but was arrested on his way to the hearing over a libel case. 

Reference:


Punay, E. (2016, February 09). CA strikes out ex-minister’s raps vs INC. PhilStar Global. Retrieved December 17, 2020, from https://www.philstar.com/metro/2016/02/09/1551523/ca-strikes-out-ex-ministers-raps-vs-inc

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INC Launched a Major Defamation Lawsuit against CBC’s The Fifth Estate program

Deception. Discouragement. Division.

CBC intentionally and maliciously published untrue and defamatory statements and innuendo about INC on their Fifth Estate program citing allegations of “murder, kidnapping, financial wrongdoing”.

It is time for iterative lies and regurgitated news be put to rest. They become exhausting when divisive intents are known.

INC is a Christian religious organization whose primary purposes are to serve and worship, and share the gospel of salvation with all people.

In many instances since January 2018, CBC rejected INC’s request to air their side of the story. Jennifer McGuire, General Manager and Editor in Chief of CBC News never even replied to an offer of an interview in early August 2018. It was the first request. 

At the behest of the expelled members of the Church, CBC had already formed its predetermined opinions. Given the perception of bias and prejudice within CBC, there is no guarantee that divergent views will be reflected respectfully by both Rankin and McKeown.

“CBC journalism promotes balance, impartiality, accuracy, integrity and fairness for information content.”

Balance, as defined on the CBC website, is the fair presentation of a range of views and perspectives over time.

In a display of arrogance and insolence, they attempted ambush interviews in front of chapels and venues holding sacred worship services, in Sacramento with 17,000  attendees and Toronto with about 2,000 worshippers. 

They tweaked their videos to show that they were the ones harassed.  Their sentiments were so harrowing that, in effect, portray the INC members and worshippers as members of an organization involved in “corruption, kidnapping, murder”. Through repetitions of these allegations, McKeown was quoted saying ” it ups the ante, but you also want to tell it in a way that people can understand and appreciate what the severity the allegations is”. 

It was condescending. 

CBC sourced their information from a few disgruntled members, who hurl invectives on social media using dummy accounts and fake profiles. 

Iterative lies and regurgitated news are just too exhausting.

It is but vital for INC members to seek justice in a temperate and rational way– in the proper forum, at the right time, for the right reason.

INC Launched a Major Defamation Lawsuit on CBC

Winnipeg, Manitoba (February 11, 2019) – The Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) or Church of Christ, an international religious organization, launched a major defamation lawsuit against Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)- The Fifth Estate’s TV program “Church of Secrets”—that they aired in November 2018.

The Notice of Action against CBC and those involved in the Fifth Estate program had been served on the people being sued. The actual lawsuit was filed in the Court of Queen’s Bench in Winnipeg, in a historic city where the first congregation of Iglesia Ni Cristo was registered in Canada.

A news conference organized on behalf of the INC held in Winnipeg on Friday announced that the charges were based on the scandalous, outrageous and false accusations against the Church in that program.

At the news conference attended by several Ministers of the Church, members of the Church, and the Church’s lawyers, the following points were made by Minister Rod Bruno and Minister Sidney Santos:

  • The Church is seeking, above all, vindication for the false allegations made against it by CBC’s Fifth Estate program and, Timothy Sawa and Bob McKeown. There was and is no evidence to support these false allegations;
  • The Church is seeking an apology and retraction for the misrepresentations and falsehoods asserted by the Fifth Estate program. CBC is not prepared to offer an apology and retraction and have therefore left the Church with no alternative but to pursue this lawsuit to hold them accountable for these grossly unjust accusations which were based on nothing more than innuendo and speculation;
  • The program included an allegation by an individual which turned out to be false.  Well before the program aired, the individual disavowed the information she had provided to CBC.  CBC should have known full well that what the individual said was false and had been disavowed, yet they proceeded to include it as part of the program.
  • The program referred to Iglesia Ni Cristo as the “Church of Secrets.” The point highlighted at the news conference that the Church had nothing to hide. The Church has been very involved in outreach programs, humanitarian programs of all sorts and has participated in assisting victims of calamities: hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, etc.
  • The Ministers made clear at the news conference that the members of the Church are law-abiding, God-fearing and peaceful citizens of Canada and the rest of the world.

The Church could not remain silent and do nothing about these spurious allegations against it that have stained and damaged the Church’s reputation. The Church is determined to hold CBC accountable for the gross misrepresentations that tainted its reputation worldwide.

###

Amazing Graces Strong
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De Ocampo found at fault for defamation for her participation in the Fifth Estate’s program

Iglesia Ni Cristo v. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Liezl De Ocampo, et al. Manitoba Court of Queen’s Bench File No. CI19-01-19079____________________

Iglesia Ni Cristo (“INC”) provides the following update on its defamation suit against Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (“CBC”), CBC’s employees, Lowell II Robosa Menorca, Rolando Dizon, and Liezl De Ocampo.

INC’s defamation suit arises from the CBC’s November 2018 broadcast of an investigative news program which purported to report on the workings and activities of INC. The program formed part of CBC’s public affairs series, “The Fifth Estate,” and was subsequently rebroadcast on the CBC website.

The program featured interviews with the former INC members: Lowell II Robosa Menorca, Rolando Dizon, and Liezl De Ocampo.

Winnipeg lawyer Jay Prober, who represents the church, said that CBC rejected the offer of interviews with INC senior officials to air their side. A CBC news editor was also quoted, “they don’t intend to make an apology or retraction.”

INC took action and filed a lawsuit in February 2019 against CBC’s employees and the Fifth Estate participants in the Court of Queen’s Bench of Manitoba. INC has claimed that its character and reputation have been severely injured by The Fifth Estate program’s defamatory content in the suit.

On September 23, 2020, INC brought a motion for Judgment against Liezl De Ocampo. The Honourable Madam Justice Grammond of the Court of Queen’s Bench of Manitoba heard that Motion on December 11, 2020.

On February 1, 2021, Madam Justice Grammond released her written decision on this motion, finding that:

  1. “De Ocampo made a series of comments to the CBC defendants that would tend to lower the plaintiffs’ [INC’s] reputation in the eyes of right-thinking members of society.”
  • “Since De Ocampo has not raised any defense to the claim…defamation has been established against her.“
  • The assessment of the quantum of damages to be awarded against Ms. De Ocampo ought to be deferred to trial, where “oral evidence will be presented in a detailed and comprehensive manner that will enable the trial judge to assess damages appropriately.”

INC now intends to move its defamation suit forward to trial, including against CBC, with examinations for discovery (depositions) later this year.

For more information regarding this story, please contact INC’s legal counsel Jay Prober at jayprober@gmail.com

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Gratefully Yours

That one beautiful hymn.

One lovely piece that is both aching and inspiring. It tells the silent bravery amidst impoverished means; of quiet courage in moments of adversity.

Lord Jesus, help me please to persevere and carry on;
Because my heart is hurting and my mind is tired and worn.
I thank You that You always let me recollect with such joy:
There is a home You are preparing, Lord.

The balance has tipped too far.

This temporal dimension of our ambitious lives— always charging the facets of time and space. Oh, the vocation of perfecting our lives to the full measure to which we are, so-called, destined.

Still, the world breaks everyone.

But in the grandest scheme of things, there’s one path to freedom.

To salvation.

For there’s so much more to give and share—the love that meets our life’s purpose.

Our faith.

I am resolved and ready to stand firm and sure,
In full obedience, to patiently endure;
But one thing I implore—I beg with all my soul,
Oh, bring me there with You; Lord, take me home.

I vow to stand firm; fortitude sublime. To share with my neighbours, this love You gave. When hope is wanting, I will reach out; That I resolve, to impart this faith I have.

Amazing Graces Strong
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CBC Fifth Estate has created perception and prejudice against the INC

“A total hogwash”,  critics said about the CBC program.

cbcfilthestateisahogwash

CBC Fifth Estate’s odd documentary on “Church of Secrets” once again highlighted their standard practice of sensationalizing news.

Their video clips were taken out of context; some were cut and dried from fake news outlets like Rappler and some dummy news outlets on Facebook.

They may have gained traction on the number of viewership–assisted, wheeled and peddled by the anti-INC propagandists. The only fact is that they are REGURGITATED FAKE news. 

It’s not certain yet of the CBC ratings, but based on the mainstream media, most of their programs were failing ratings. Until they have shown the “Church of Secrets”.

CBC’s The National and CBCInvestigates were too tempted on the prospective viewership and inserted the teaser-trailer with a much-publicized caption of “murder, kidnapping, and financial wrongdoing” on their programs.

How do they push their stories forward? 

First, they make allegations, even though no evidence whatsoever to make such an outlandish statement. Next, they IMPLY with repeated questions. The goal was to raise doubts.

Typical smear job.

cbcexposed

…particularly concerned with the CBC’s insidious slanting of news, their innuendos about people who do not fit their particular profile of what they deem acceptable, their non-reportage of the ridiculous quotes and ideas put forth by their pet people. 
 …sadly, [they] are intellectually lazy, and almost all accept the outright lies..

Yup! Above online comments may be from 2012 and 2013 national news on what CBC had been doing. The fact is: they haven’t learned. 

***************

How many times did Bob McKeown mention the words “murder, kidnapping, and financial wrongdoing”?***     

Mr. Bob McKeown was videotaped saying, “We look forward to having theINC debunked!”…”Because we have been speaking to people, whose lives have been threatened by the church… husband killed by church…” and “I did not say Manalo killed anybody…What I did say is that the church is alleged to have been associated. People have told us, people say there were victims. They told us that the church is associated with the kidnapping murders and systemic corruption. Skimming from collections, smuggling money…”

He was the one bullying the Filipinos at the parking lot of the Golden Arena in Sacramento, and not the one intimidated by the presence of the ‘small guys” who stopped CBC in getting an ambush interview with the Church Leader.

CBC has already received the cease and desist order– days before Timothy Sawa attempted an ambush interview in Toronto in September 2018.

Timothy Sawa and his crew were already anticipating the unwelcoming crowd. So, they filmed it, recorded the conversations, then manipulated their video and played like they are the heroic journalists.

Their news sources: Menorca, Dizon, De Ocampo, Canono, et al were expelled members of the Church, so-called dissidents.  

There was no secret whatsoever that happened inside the Toronto chapel. It was a sacred gathering, a traditional worship service with the choir singing, homily, and prayers.   

Outside of the chapel, while the volunteers and a few paid-security staff were protecting the solemnity of the event, CBC Sawa made a litany of “alleged murder, kidnapping, and financial wrongdoing”.

It’s arrogance at its worst.

Here are the legal notes and comments on the CBC-FifthEstate’s program, “Church of Secrets” which, in part, will form the basis of the lawsuit against CBC, Sawa, McKeown, Menorca, Dizon and Liz De Ocampo:

1. The allegations against INC of kidnapping, murder and financial corruption are based on rumour, innuendo, gossip and speculation. The innuendo is very strong and severe. 

2. The allegations are not supported by any evidence and are uncorroborated. 

3. The allegations are not only untrue but are scandalous and vague. 

4. CBC and its journalists on this matter think they are above the law. They and the show portrayed arrogance. 

5. CBC complained about the program about being harassed by members of the church when it was, in fact, the other way around: they were harassing members of the church. 

6. CBC did not give the church an opportunity to present their side of the story despite several requests by us to do so. 

7. Our offer to produce a senior member of the church as a spokesperson was rejected by CBC. 

8. Calling the church the “Church of Secrets” was not supported by any evidence. 

9. McKeown referred to “sources” in a vague way without saying who they were, where they were or when they spoke to them. 

10. McKeown also said “people,” told them certain things but, again in a vague way without saying who, where or when. 

11. The Iglesia Ni Cristo has been defamed by baseless innuendo, gossip and speculation and should be sued along with the others listed above.

CBC reports should have been more mindful of how stories are framed. CBC reporters should also be mindful of the divisive and controversial intents of Lowell Menorca and his group.

Based on the aforementioned, CBC programs have demonstrated the intent to cause offence or instigate hatred against a group based on religion. Members of the press should and must have a duty to maintain the highest professional and ethical standards.

Theirs was a big neglect.

Since January 25, 2018, when Mr. Eric Rankin published his story about Lowell Menorca II, quoting the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) of Canada, that the “Philippines-based church has ‘means and motivation’ to kill refugee if returned”, CBC has already formed their predetermined opinions prior to gathering the facts of a story.  

Given the perception of bias and prejudice within CBC, there is no guarantee that divergent views will be reflected by Rankin, Sawa, McKeown, Swain and their crew.

They should be ashamed of themselves.

 

***My apologies, I have repeated these words too many times for the purpose of desensitization– to diminish readers’ emotional responsiveness to negative, aversive, and false allegations.

 

NOW, let’s share this with everyone else with the same media template and hashtags that incsilentnomore is using:  

#antonioebangelista, 

#iglesianicristo, #inc102, #inccentennial #centennial #inc4life #incootd #incfashion #incmedianews #inctv #net25 #incmedia #increview #fymfoundation #mycountrymenmybrethren #kabayankokapatidko #incselfiechallenge #incwikileaks #sanggunian #radelcortez #gerrypurification #junsantos #gliceriosantosjr #rolandoesguerra #benefridosantiago #rodelcabrera #biensantiago #erdzcodera #ernestosuratos #mattpareja #antonioebangelista #silentnomore #iglesianicristosilentnomore #onewithevm #accessthetruth #iglesianicristoblogspot #mandirigma #spiritualwarriors #arneltumanan #babylynmanalo #jojodeguzman #TJOrosa #GPSantos #SergieSantos #AnnieSantos #incradio #angelomanalo #churchofchrist #Johncollado #orthodoxpriest #angelmanalo #lottiehemedez #36tandangsora #sirkular #circular #proudtobeINC #sherlock #thetakingofroviccanono #PhilippineRedCross #RichardGordon #andrewE #philippinearena #christmasdaygames #pba #oilfracking #southdakota #standingrock #violieedrosalan #roviccanono #bairanfamily #australiasilentnomore #mandirigmanomore #maribelmetano #spiritualbusinessmen #rommelsanpedro #regaladodelosreyes #isaiassamsonjr #aidtohumanity #inc #lingappamamahayag #lingapsamamamayan #incinafrica #stampedeinafrica #venerationforevm #evmministers #felixvillocino #dannypatungan #farleydecastro #rodrigoduterte #jameswhite #joeventilacion #incfakepriest #incfakenun #nonoponce #newsanjosebuilders #joseacuzar #nureauofcustoms #teddyraval #dollytoledo #mandirigmanomore #episode2 #thepawnnameddolly #justiceforlitofruto #litofruto #incwhistleblowersreport #diplomaticpassport #dfa #gemmamanalo #stf #evmsalaysay #angelomanalo #newbreedofdefenders #felixvillocino #danilopatungan #jonathanledesma #sterlingcañete #inchinirang #incmurderers #inccriminals #rommelsanpedro #carmelitasanpedro #evmobsession #accessthetruth #fakevideos #isaiastsamson #junsamson #remnantfew #chrisbrown #incextortionist #maligayadevelopmentcorporation #mcconchielaw #faithweaponized #rappler #ramonang #philippinedailyinquirer #canada #immigrationandrefugeeboard #ericrankin #cbc #specialenvoy #duterteseelshissoultothedevil #cyberattack #TunaynaDefenderofthefaith #michaelsandoval #bobbyfernandez #jessemacaspac #inckillings #richmondnilo #oxnardlocale #recycledchapel #rededication #hendersonlocale #golden1center #50thanniversaryinthewest #immigrationandrefugeeboard #CanadaIRB #donorozco #reyfortmediagroup #philippineasiannewstoday #cbc

#fifthestate, #bobmckeown

… and with my favorite #cbcExposed

The Welkin Rings
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Classic CBC aggression proves Fifth Estate’s arrogance

These are the end of times– when a fine thread of democracy is abused and masked by the clacking power of press freedom.

What has become of our civilization? For the indigents? For us, the considered religious minority, in this country? Most of us are even timid in speaking for ourselves. When bullied and intimidated, we hunker down. In the corner.

The CBC Fifth Estate, The National, and CBC Investigates are still ganging up on INC, salivating perhaps on the viewership rating.

BUT wait!

The information, in part, forms the basis of the lawsuit against CBC, Sawa, McKeown, Menorca, Dizon and Liz De Ocampo:

1. The allegations against INC of kidnapping, murder and financial corruption are based on rumour, innuendo, gossip and speculation. The innuendo is very strong and severe. 

2. The allegations are not supported by any evidence and are uncorroborated. 

3. The allegations are not only untrue but scandalous and vague. 

4. CBC and its journalists on this matter think they are above the law. They and the show portrayed arrogance. 

5. CBC complained on the program about being harassed by church members when it was the other way around: they were harassing members of the church. 

6. CBC did not give the church an opportunity to present its side of the story despite several requests by us to do so. 

7. Our offer to produce a senior member of the church as a spokesperson was rejected by CBC. 

8. Calling the church the “Church of Secrets” was not supported by any evidence. 

9. McKeown referred to “sources” in a vague way without saying who they were, where they were or when they spoke to them. 

10. McKeown also said “people,” told them certain things but, again in a vague way without saying who, where or when. 

11. The Iglesia Ni Cristo has been defamed by baseless innuendo, gossip and speculation and should be sued along with the others listed above.

/ 2019 February

The Welkin Rings