What’s the real dope on the INC EDSA-Shaw fiasco?

MANY who had expected to cash in on the recent Iglesia ni Cristo march on EDSA/Shaw Boulevard ended with a sad face, as though they had lost all their life savings at Ricky Razon’s casino. One rather audacious hustler who had committed various groups, without their knowledge, to join the rally was visibly stupefied by the non-appearance of the guys and groups he apparently had wanted to exhibit as his own trophies. The INC organizers themselves did not want any strangers mixing in; using a common counter sign, the marchers were continuously reminded to make sure no non-members stood next to them. Thus, aside from Malacañang, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and the Liberal Party (LP), no outsiders were able to use the march for their own ends. It was their show all along, at the victim’s own expense.

Even the expelled INC minister Isaias Samson, whose charges of serious illegal detention, harassment, grave threats and coercion against eight of the 12 members of the Sanggunian, the INC’s all-powerful administrative body, had triggered the protest rally, was himself used by Malacañang to hoodwink the INC. The INC was made to believe that De Lima was dying to file the non-bailable charge of serious illegal detention against the Sanggunian members, and possibly even against INC executive minister Ka Eduardo Manalo himself. This line was excessively hyped, including the last part.