Expelled INC members continue to call for truth despite fears for safety

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – On July 26 a group of  Iglesia Ni Cristo brethren rallied in front of the U.S. Main Office in Burlingame, Calif. demanding answers to the corruption scandal rocking the church.

What they got – expulsion.

Protesters we spoke to said they were identified by church officials at the rally.

Later that week some received phone calls telling them they were expelled. Others found out when they were turned away from church service.

A former INC member, who was among those expelled after the rally, spoke with Balitang America and requested her identity be concealed over safety concerns.

“It’s almost disgusting to see when a leadership that’s being questioned for being corrupted instead if addressing the issue they’re diverting the issue and turning the members against each other,” she said.

She hopes the protest can inspire other brethren to not blindly follow orders from INC leaders.

“Instead of just expelling everyone, address the issue,” she said. “It’s everyone’s responsibility. Don’t just wait for the leadership and do what they tell you. If the leadership is in question, everyone has to think for themselves. People should be allowed to question things peacefully without threats, without violence.”

But according to another former INC member who was at the rally, fears of retaliation from the church against protesters were heightened a week later after gunshots were fired at his home.

“It just so happens they showed the vigil a week prior and we have the incident a week later, so a lot of things go through my mind, of course.” he said, also under the condition of anonymity. “I don’t know. I have no idea. I hope it’s not anybody from the church. I just wanted to open that conversation with the administration and nothing more. I don’t want anybody getting hurt, nor do I want to point fingers at anyone at this point.”

“I know that only God can judge me,” said the woman. “Expulsion under a corrupt leadership means nothing to me, personally. I can’t speak for everyone else, but for me, personally, I know I did the right thing and I’m fighting the good fight.”

Balitang America did call the police department that responded to the houses that came under gun fire. They confirmed that there was a shooting at both locations within ten minutes of each other. Currently the police have witnesses but no one has been arrested at this time. Balitang America also contacted the Iglesia Ni Cristo Main Office in Burlingame but we were unable to reach them.

You can contact Rommel Conclara at rommel_conclara@abs-cbn.com for more information.