PNoy on resolving Iglesia ni Cristo protest: We clarified each other’s positions

(Updated 3:51 p.m.) Amid speculations that the government reached an agreement with Iglesia ni Cristo, President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday said they merely “clarified each other’s positions” during a late-night meeting that resulted in the religious group calling off its massive rally on EDSA last month.

“What their spokesman said na ‘nagkaunawaan’ I think represents clearly what was achieved. There were groups out to create divisions, trying to exploit fears, etc. And we were able to clarify each other’s positions with regards to this matter,” Aquino said during a forum organized by the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Members of Aquino’s Cabinet met with leaders of the influential Iglesia ni Cristo before its members decided to leave their protest site along EDSA on the morning of August 31.

Thousands of Iglesia ni Cristo members gathered in EDSA-Shaw Boulevard for an entire weekend to protest the Department of Justice's investigation on some of its leaders.

The investigation stemmed from the complaint filed by expelled minister Isaias Samson Jr., who accused the leaders of detaining him and his family after he bared the supposed irregularities within the organization.

Intel reports

Aquino said he received intelligence reports that certain individuals tried to exploit the Iglesia ni Cristo protest.

“May mga intelligence reports tayo bago ‘non na itong mga taong itong identified with various groups that have been opposed to us even before I started in office, who were participants in this particular event, trying to exploit it for their own and separate agenda,” he said.

Among those who spoke at the protest was the president’s aunt, former Tarlac Governor Margarita “Tingting” Cojuangco, wherein she called for justice over the Mamasapano massacre.

“Klaro naman nakita natin sa EDSA, may mga tao doon hindi naman yata miyembro ng simbahan nila na nandoon, nagtatalumpati—mga kanya-kanyang agenda, kung anu-anong disgruntlement,” Aquino added.

Let case stand or fall on its own merits

Aquino also debunked accusations that the supposed agreement entailed the eventual dismissal of the charges filed against the leaders of Iglesia.

He said “the case will stand or fall on its own merits.”

“Under our system of laws, the accuser has the burden of proof. So, (if) you accuse someone of doing something, you have to prove it. Does it exist in this affidavit of complaints or does it not?” Aquino said. —KBK, GMA News