Lawyer warns DOJ of overreaching in INC probe

MANILA, Philippines - The head of a free expression advocacy group on Friday warned the Department of Justice (DOJ) against overreaching in its investigation on the allegations of an expelled minister of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) against the influential religious group. 

 

In a statement, lawyer Harry Roque Jr. of the Center for International Law said the freedom of expression and religion are guaranteed and protected by the Constitution. 

 

"In fact, the people’s right to freedom of religion is stymied if they are denied their right to express such freedom," Roque said, defending the so-called 'silent protest' of thousands of INC members in front DOJ building in Manila. 

 

"In a modern society, the state and the church must recognize the principle of differentiated responsibility. In this case, the state recognizes that it has no competence to rule on theological or doctrinal disputes. But at the same time, the church must also see that it is the legitimate interest of the state to investigate where a crime has been committed," Roque said. 

 

The DOJ investigated and filed a case against some INC officials on the alleged kidnapping of expelled leaders of the religious group. 

 

Roque said the DOJ cannot prevent members of the church from practicing their faith, unless it is shown that 'there is a clear and present danger that what they are doing is already injurious to the life, liberty and property of others."

 

"Freedom of expression is central to our communal quest for the truths that animate who and what we are as a society. We deny such freedom, we tell ourselves we are afraid of these central truths and find no relevance for them in our daily lives, and to the meaning of our existence," Roque added. 

 

On Thursday, thousands of INC followers trooped to DOJ building to protest the alleged injustice being done by the agency on their leaders, claiming the expelled INC executives are merely spreading lies.