Iglesia ni Cristo protester at Edsa rally: ‘Wala kaming napala. Nagpagod lang kami’

Members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo rally near EDSA Shrine. LYN RILLON

What do Iglesia Ni Cristo members get for picketing on Edsa?

“Wala kaming napala! (We got nothing!)”

This was the reaction of Ka Ising, a lady protester who requested anonymity for fear of persecution, on the ongoing rally of INC members on Edsa-Shaw Boulevard intersection.

She’s one of the members of the influential church who marched Friday evening from the Department of Justice compound to Edsa, contributing to the heavy traffic already caused by mall sale and payday weekend.

They were protesting the meddling of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima in the affairs of the Philippine-based church by allegedly “giving special treatment” on the serious illegal detention and grave coercion complaint filed by former INC minister Isaias Samson Jr.

But not everyone who flocked the Edsa for a protest rally that caused heavy traffic was happy with what they’re doing.

“Sa totoo lang wala kaming napala. Nagpagod lang kami,” said Ka Ising, a member of the church’s district from a province in Southern Luzon.

(To be honest, we got nothing. We just got ourselves tired.)

The 36-year-old Ka Ising said they were asked by their church leaders to join the protest against the “biased” moves by De Lima.

“Sinabihan kami na pupunta kami sa Maynila para mag-rally nga. May sasakyan naman at wala nang pasok kaya pumunta na lang kami,” she said.

(We were told to go here in Manila to join the rally. There’s no work so we joined.)

Embracing the INC faith for 20 years now, the mother of four said she supports the church’s fight for separation of church and state, but she said that it would be better if the church leadership would resolve the issue silently.

“Tingin ko kung nakekealam si De Lima dito, eh, kaya namang malutas ito ng Sanggunian. Si EVM pa. Simple lang ‘to.”

EVM are the initials of executive minister Eduardo V. Manalo, the controversial top leader of INC.

(I think if De Lima is meddling in the case, the Sanggunian can resolve this. How much more EVM? This is easy.)

She expressed confidence that the church has plenty of good lawyers who can help.

“Kaya po ang sa Sanggunian sana po masolusyunan niyo ito nang tahimik at mapayapa. Sana magkaisa ang lahat ng kapatid,” she added.

(I hope the Saggunian can solve this silently and peacefully. I hope the brethren will be united.)

Asked if they will continue to join the rally, she said she and her family will just go home and rest.

Most of the protesters say they will not go home. “Walang uuwi. INC! INC!” the crowd chanted.

While expressing hope that the complaint will be junked, she said she believed her church mates should go home and respect the rights of other people inconvenienced by their action.

“Wala namang problemang ‘di nalulutas, ‘di ba?” she added.

(Any problem has a solution, right?) Anthony Q. Esguerra, TVJ