(Eagle News) — The Department of Justice has dismissed two complaints filed against officials of the Iglesia Ni Cristo for lack of probable cause.
The complaints lodged by expelled INC minister Isaias Samson Jr., and expelled INC member Jose Norlito Fruto before the DOJ were both dismissed in two separate resolutions dated Nov. 13.
The recommendation of the DOJ panel to dismiss the complaints were signed and approved by Prosecutor General Claro Arellano.
In the resolution dismissing Samson’s complaint, the DOJ said that the INC officials could not have been liable for grave coercion when they were accused of compelling Samson to admit that he was Ebanghelista and naming other ministers who gave information used in the blog that criticized the INC.
“Complainant Isaias failed to offer proof that he was compelled to do something against his will when he was allegedly forced by respondent to execute a written statement admitting his culpability and complicity in the Ebanghelista blog. The record is bereft of any proof that indeed the subject statement exists,” the resolution explained.
The DOJ added that the expelled INC minister “failed to offer an iota of evidence” on the allegation of intimidation on the confiscation of his passport, service vehicle, laptop, cellphone and other personal effects.
“There is nothing in the recitation of facts made by complainant which show that respondents resorted to threat, violence and intimidation when the said articles were taken allegedly upon orders of the Sanggunian,” the DOJ resolution said.
The DOJ resolution also noted that “the element of force, threat and intimidation” was also “wanting” in relation to Samson’s complaint for the supposed forcible entry into his residence. It pointed out that neither Samson nor his family members were present at the time of the alleged forcible entry.
The DOJ said that the charges of illegal detention and restraint on their liberty were found not to have been “coupled with threat, violence and intimidation.”
The resolution also repeatedly stressed that “there is no evidence” of physical harm or any form of intimidation against Samson or members of his family.
Similarly, the DOJ said that there was no probable cause for illegal arrest, arbitrary detention and violation of abode regarding Fruto’s complaint against the INC officials who are members of the Sanggunian.
The DOJ resolution dismissed Fruto’s charges of robbery noting that he was not even in his house when the alleged robbery was committed.
As to Fruto’s allegations that INC officials were bent on silencing and harassing him through the filing of a string of criminal charges, a number of which were already pending in court, the DOJ stressed that these were “already subject of judicial proceedings.” It said Fruto’s claims of harassment should be raised as a matter of defense in the proper courts when they are being heard.
“In any case, we reiterate our observation that it is improper and unprocedural (to say the least) to make a ruling on the matter. At the risk of being repetitive, the undersigned and/or the Prosecutor General are not authorized under the law to modify and/or amend findings of the City Prosecutor who earlier ruled there was probable cause against Fruto,” the DOJ resolution noted.
Both resolutions were drafted and signed by a panel composed of State Prosecutors Theodore Villanueva, Olivia Torrevillas and Mark Roland Estepa, and approved and signed by Prosecutor General Arellano.
Expelled INC minister Samson filed the charges of illegal detention, harassment, threats and coercion against INC officials last August. (Eagle News Service)