Iglesia: No orders for members to join pro-Estrada rally

Members of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) were not ordered to join supporters of ousted President Joseph Estrada in a huge rally at the Our Lady of EDSA shrine.

Bienvenido Santiago, INC spokesman, told The STAR in a telephone interview yesterday sect officials had not issued an official circular, pastoral letter, or any communication to its followers to take part in the rally.

"There was no order for us to be here (EDSA)," he said in Filipino.

Now on its fourth day, the rally, which Estrada supporters call "people power 3", is given round the clock coverage by INC-owned Net 25 television and radio stations AM 1062 khz and FM 95.50 khz.

But Santiago denied reports that Net 25 and the two radio stations were given the exclusive right to cover the pro-Estrada rally at EDSA.

Santiago said INC ministers issue pastoral letters, circulars or communications during prayers in their places of worship on Thursdays and Sundays.

Santiago said INC members may have gone to EDSA "on their own" to protest what had happened to Estrada, who was jailed at Camp Crame in Quezon City after being pick up Sandiganbayan Sheriff Eduardo Urrieta and Philippine National Police chief Director General Leandro Mendoza last Wednesday.

"It was a spontaneous response of the masses," he said. "They went there not as a group."

However, Santiago said the INC has no comment about the rally or an official statement on Estrada’s arrest and detention. –Sandy Araneta