Iglesia ni Cristo spokesman: Angel Manalo ‘damaged himself’

As the Iglesia ni Cristo marks the end of its centenary this weekend, its spokesperson said their focus is now on their closing ceremonies, begging off from further commenting on allegations made by Angel Manalo, brother of Eduardo, the church's current Executive Minister.

In a phone interview with GMA News Online on Friday, Edwin Zabala said their earlier comments were already “sufficient” to answer the allegations.

He earlier cast doubt on Angel’s claim of a hostage situation within the Manalo housing compound in Tandang Sora, Quezon City.

“After he said to the media that he was being held hostage, nu’ng gabi, nu’ng wala nang nangyayari, umamin na rin na, 'Ako pala ay hindi hino-hostage.' So for us that's sufficient, ‘wag nang dagdagan,” he said.

He added: “He damaged himself already. I don't want to add to that.”

Appearing before the media early Friday, Angel called on members of the Iglesia ni Cristo to hold vigil outside their compound and join them in defending their church against alleged corruption and doctrinal errors committed by the advisers of his brother.

Zabala told GMA News Online that it’s likely that no further action will be done about the issue as they have already turned their attention back to the preparations for their centennial closing and unity games over the weekend.

Angel, his mother and two other siblings, as well as the former editor-in-chief of the church’s official publication, have been expelled from the group.

Zabala also said they cancelled the scheduled press briefing on the celebrations on Friday morning because the issue currently hounding their organization might become the focus of media inquiries.

“Pasensya na po we cancelled it because our thinking was ‘yung press briefing was supposed to be for the end of our centennial celebrations, our unity games. Pero baka hindi doon ma-focus, mawawala pa doon, so we cancelled,” he said. —KBK, GMA News