LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The provincial prosecutor’s office recommended the filing of libel charges against the alleged whistle blower against the supposed malpractices of the Iglesia ni Cristo and the Society of Communicators and Networkers International, Inc. which had been reportedly used by the religious group as its hit squad after finding probable cause relative thereto.
In an information filed before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Benguet, the provincial prosecutor’s office cited that the statements of Noel Minorca II against SCAN which is being used as a hit squad of the INC that was aired by a giant television network were false, baseless, libellous and derogatory to the good name and reputation of the group.
Further, the information noted that the derogatory statements against SCAN International, Inc. which was broadcasted or showed on television in the entire Philippines was viewed, watched or seen in the municipality of La Trinidad to the great damage and prejudice of the SCAN International, Inc. and its members as well as the INC as a church.
The case against Minorca stemmed from his alleged malicious statements against SCAN International, Inc. which he branded as the INCV’s hit squad during his television interview aired over a giant television network on October 28, 2015.
The provincial prosecutor cited that Minorca had the purpose of impeaching, degrading and discrediting the good name and reputation of the members of SCAN International, Inc., an association duly registered under existing laws of the Philippines and with malicious intent of exposing the same and its members to public hatred, contempt and ridicule, did then and there wilfully, unlawfully and feloniously went for interview with the network.
Minorca claimed in the aired interview that SCAN International, Inc. is an armed group being used as a ‘hit squad’ by the INC in which he was quoted as saying, “Halimbawa, may kapatid na inapi may nilapastangan o kaya may ginawan ng masama, ang takbuhan nila ay itong SCAN, itong SCAN naman ngayon, gamitin na natin ang terminong reresback sila,”
Minorca was further quoted as saying, “Mayrloon talagang grupo sa local, sa distrito meron na silang masasabi nating operators, yun ang mga hitman nila, sila yung gagawa ng kung anuman ang kailangan gawa, kung yan may pagdukot, pagpatay, dahil ang paniniwala nila ito ay may masamang ginagawa sa Iglesia.”
According to him, ‘may mga armas ang mga taong ito, may ilan sa kanila ay bahagi ng law enforcement, nagging mukhang private army yung mga SCAN sa ibat-ibang mga local sa ibat-ibang distrito, mero silang overwhelming sense of authority na kaya nilang gumawa ng extra juridical activity.”
While similar libel cases against Minorca in other parts of the country were dismissed for lack of probable cause, the provincial prosecutor found that the case filed in the province was with probable cause.
Libel is penalized by an imprisonment of six years and one day up to 12 years upon the discretion of the court.
By Dexter A. See
