Philippines Investigates Alleged Abductions Within Religious Sect

An interesting story coming out of the Philippines and reported on by Atheist Republic.  Waiting to see if more information becomes available but as some fear, "Philippines' coerced culture; manipulated by corrupt politicians and religious pillars. Philippines' sabotaged economy, staged by giant corporations,"  and noted with the article, it appears to be a game of politics.  "According to sources, political candidates in the country seek help from the powerful sect, since its members happen to cast their votes in a bloc."

Allegations of abductions and gross misuse of funds within a politically powerful but secretive religious sect in the Philippines has caused the Department of Justice to launch an investigation that would help expose the church’s control of its members. Leila de Lima, secretary of the justice department, said even though the government cannot directly interfere in the squabble taking place within Iglesia ni Cristo, also known as Church of Christ, the National Bureau of Investigation would look into the alleged abductions, as those happen to violate the country’s laws.

The ongoing feud inside the closely-knit religious sect surfaced last month after the mother and brother of Eduardo Manalo, who heads the church, were expelled for seeking help from other church members via a YouTube message that also claimed that the duo’s life had been put in danger ever since a number of ministers went missing. 

Isaias Samson, former editor in chief of Iglesia ni Cristo’s newspaper, told the media that his wife and son too had been held under house arrest for a week by armed guardsmen who received orders from the church. He also clarified that the two eventually managed to escape unharmed.

From the description presented by Chatterjee, this group has all the markings a cult:

While Roman Catholicism happens to be the predominant religion across Southeast Asia, Felix Manalo, founder of Iglesia ni Cristo, broke away from the root religion to form his own church. He is also considered a prophet by those that follow him. After Felix Manalo’s death in 1963, his son Erano Manalo took over the post until his demise in 2009, when yet another Manalo son, Eduardo, assumed office as ‘executive minister’. Even though the church believes that Christ was the Son of God, it does not believe in the Holy Trinity like Roman Catholics do.

Philippines Investigates Alleged Abductions Within Religious Sect