INC chief’s sibling moved to Camp Bagong Diwa

MANILA, Philippines - The expelled sibling of Iglesia Ni Cristo’s executive minister and two others were transferred yesterday to the Metro Manila District jail facility in Taguig City.

Felix Nathaniel Manalo, brother of INC’s executive minister Eduardo Manalo, was moved to the detention facility at Camp Bagong Diwa following a commitment order issued by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court branch 84.

Jonathan Ledesma and Victor Erano “Jem” Manalo-Hemedes were transferred along with Manalo to the Camp Bagong Diwa jail from their cells at the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) headquarters in Camp Karingal.

The commitment order was issued on Wednesday but only implemented yesterday.

Chief Superintendent Guillermo Eleazar, QCPD Director, said Manalo’s camp filed a motion to remain in detention at the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit facility at the QCPD headquarters but it was not granted.

Manalo is facing non-bailable charges of illegal possession of firearms after a raid on his residence at the Tandang Sora Compound in Barangay New Era yielded a shotgun, an M-16 rifle, two carbine rifles, a rifle grenade, a .40 caliber Springfield Armory USA pistol and around 100 bullets.

Ledesma and Hemedes have not posted bail in the gun charges filed against them. Ledesma also faces direct assault with frustrated murder charges after he allegedly shot two police officers with an M-16 rifle.