OTHER DISMISSED CASES OF BRO ELI SORIANO

Manila, Philippines (5/2/2014) – In two cases filed separately on two related incidents by members of the Iglesia ni Cristo against Eliseo Soriano, the evangelist won his second round of court case. The first case filed in Marikina City was for attempted murder and spoke of an incident on September 4, 2001; the second filed in San Mateo, Rizal was for libel and zeroed in on an incident, three days after.

Soriano, who is referred to as Bro. Eli by his constituents, is the Presiding Minister of the Members Church of God International (MCGI) or Ang Dating Daan as known by the public for its flagship radio-TV program. The evangelist is now based overseas in accordance with his antipodal direction of preaching.

In an eight-page decision penned by Josephine Zarate Fernandez, Presiding Judge of the Regional Trial Court, Fourth Judicial Region, Branch 76 of San Mateo Rizal, TV Broadcaster Eliseo F. Soriano was acquitted of the charge of libel. The order signed on January 14, 2014 said that malice was not proven beyond reasonable doubt.

According to Law, malice is one of the four elements of libel that must be sufficiently satisfied for the case to succeed. The three others include: the allegation of a discreditable act or condition concerning another, publication of the charge, identity of the person defamed, and existence of malice. The absence of anyone of these elements will not make the case prosper.

The case docketed as Criminal Case No. 5957 charged Soriano for the crime of libel as punished under Article 355 of the Revised Penal Code.  The complaint in part said that on the 7^th day of September 2001, the evangelist, during his TV program in SBN21 located at Pasig city,  uttered in particular, “Sabi nila sa akin, baka quack doctor yon, kaya galit sa akin (They told me, she may be a quack doctor and that is why she is mad at me.” Subject statement referred to Dr. Nancy Nakpil Pascua, the private complainant of the case, the decision said.

On September 4, 2001 or some three days immediately before the TV program wherein Soriano allegedly uttered that statement, Pascua happened to be found with some Iglesia ni Cristo members in the house of Dr. Alberto Jimenez and his wife who belonged to the congregation of the Ang Dating Daan. With them was Bernardo Santiago, one excommunicated by Soriano for adultery and then became a member of the Iglesia ni Cristo. As alleged by Witness Rolando Ocampo, this Bernardo Santiago, a companion of private complainant Dr. Pascua, told the Jimenez couple that Soriano is “bakla,” among others.

The decision ended, saying the degree of proof mandatory to establish malice was not attained. Soriano was therefore acquitted by the court.
Incidentally, in a separate case dismissed four years earlier, Bernardo Santiago of the Iglesia ni Cristo had filed a case of attempted murder against Bro. Eli Soriano and his companions. Docketed as Criminal Cases Nos. 2002-4236-MK and referring to September 4, 2001, the same date he and Dr. Pascua were visiting the Jimenez couple, private complainant Bernardo Santiago alleged that accused Soriano acted in conspiracy with the others to kill him.

According to the order dismissing the case, the prosecution presented Witnesses Glen Fernandez and Rommel Elbambuena who both heard one of the accused say, “Patayin yan! Patayin yan! Utos ni Ingkong!” (Kill him! Kill him! Order of Ingkong!) Ingkong is a monicker for Bro. Eli Soriano.

Judge Geraldine Fiel-Macaraig of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 192 of Marikina City, however, dismissed the case for insufficiency of evidence on February 11, 2010. Conspiracy was not proven.
The most recent case won by Bro. Eli and filed by Iglesia ni Cristo members was for libel but was dismissed on February 11, 2014. Ramil T. Parba as representative of the Iglesia ni Cristo along with Marianito Cayao and Bernardo Santiago, accused Eliseo Soriano and his companions, Danilo Navales, Jocel Mallari, Wilfredo Santiago and Luzviminda Cruz, of libel in Criminal Case No. Q-05-136679 for a program aired on January 21, 2005.

Soriano and his co-hosts in UNTV, after denying the allegation of the Iglesia ni Cristo that they were selling goods inside four church locales, were discussing the Supreme Court decision in People vs. Abella, G.R. No.127803, August 28, 2000 http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2000/aug2000/127803.htm

In a 15-page decision signed by Judge Jose G. Paneda of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 220 of the National Capital Judicial Region of Quezon City, Bro. Eliseo Soriano and his co-hosts at UNTV37 were acquitted of the crime of libel even when they were calling the chapel of the Iglesia ni Cristo, “killing fields” and “katayan.”

Comments are considered privileged communication when the subject in question is a public figure whose calling gives the public a legitimate interest in its doings, the decision said.
Cayao and Santiago incidentally are excommunicated members of Ang Dating Daan. In all of these three cases, Bernardo Santiago figured as either as private complainant or involved.

Bro. Eli Soriano wins Case Vs. Iglesia ni Cristo: “Killing Fields” and “Katayan” Comment not Libelous

Manila, Philippines (3/8/2014) – The court is not at all convinced that there exists a case for libel when making remarks from the reading of a Supreme Court Decision over a crime committed on a public figure’s grounds.

In a 15-page decision signed by Judge Jose G. Paneda of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 220 of the National Capital Judicial Region of Quezon City, Bro. Eliseo Soriano and his co-hosts at UNTV37 were acquitted of the crime of libel even when they were calling the chapel of the Iglesia ni Cristo, “killing fields” and “katayan.”

An earlier Criminal Case Nos. 2002-4236-MK for attempted murder accusing Eliseo Soriano et al. was also dismissed by Judge Geraldine C. Fiel-Macaraig of the National Capital Judicial Region, Branch 192 of Marikina City for insufficiency of evidence. This was signed four years earlier on February 11, 2010. The private complainant was Bernardo Santiago, one of the complainants in this recent dismissed libel case.
Comments are considered privileged communication when the subject in question is a public figure whose calling gives the public a legitimate interest in its doings, the decision said.

The decision signed on February 11, 2014 by Judge Paneda, said there is no finding as to the liability of the accused and as to the existence of the crime of libel for failure of the prosecution to prove their guilt beyond reasonable doubt, the court said.

Ramil T. Parba as representative of the Iglesia ni Cristo along with Marianito Cayao and Bernardo Santiago, accused Eliseo Soriano, Danilo Navales, Jocel Mallari, Wilfredo Santiago and Luzviminda Cruz, of libel in Criminal Case No. Q-05-136679 for a program aired on January 21, 2005.

The hosts of “Itanong mo kay Soriano” program at UNTV were accused of “conspiring together, confederating with and mutually helping one another with evident intent of exposing the Iglesia ni Cristo to public dishonor, discredit, contempt, and ridicule” and imputing crime on the complainants.
The court noted that the programs, Ang Dating Daan of Bro. Eli and Ang Tamang Daan of the Iglesia ni Cristo have a history of exchanging verbal tussles. And the latest was of the INC complainants making a false expose of allowing selling merchandise inside the four churches of Soriano.

Soriano and his co-hosts in UNTV denied in their program the allegation and said the selling was being done outside of the worship areas. The topic for the day turned into which is more disrespectful: selling outside the church or killing in the basement of the chapel. They then discussed the Supreme Court decision in People vs. Abella, G.R. No.127803, August 28, 2000.

In part, the court decision said –
“The scene of the crime was within the compounds of the Iglesia ni Cristo in Sta. Ana and the basement thereof had been witness to the gruesome torture of victims who were eventually found floating in the murky rivers of Pasig.

“Private complainants took offense, more so hurt, when with the reading of the said case of Abella, accused depicted the House of Worship of the Iglesia ni Cristo as ‘katayan,’ the basement as killing fields, execution and torture, apparently in retaliation for the private complainant’s false expose.”

In sum, the court said the act of reading a Supreme Court decision is not libelous, and even with the comments and remarks of the accused, comments are considered privileged. The Case of People vs. Abella et al. where 5 PUP students were bludgeoned to death by INC members over a mere basketball game has since become a matter of public interest and therefore open to public scrutiny.

The court also took cognizance of the fact that the institution the complainants represented is a public figure wherein the public has legitimate interest in its doings.

Borrowing from the wisdom in Warren vs. Pulitzer Publishing Company, and also shared in Borjal vs. the Court of Appeals, the court said, “Every man has a right to discuss matters of interest. A clergyman with his flock, an admiral with his fleet, a general with his army, a judge with his jury. We are, all of us, the subject of public discussion….. It is only in despotism that one must speak sub rosa, or in whispers, with bated breath, around the corner, or in the dark on a subject touching the common welfare…”

The court also took note that when accused Eliseo Soriano peppered the members of the Iglesia ni Cristo with cases of libel in 2005 for calling him names like “Dayukdok,:  “Mandarambong, “Mongongotong, “Matakaw sa pera,” “Seaman-loloko,” among many other names through their program, Ang Tamang Daan, the cases were dismissed on the ground that they did not show any defamatory imputations and for lack of malice. The same was observed when the INC members distorted Soriano’s speeches and commentaries.
Documentary exhibits submitted by the defense consisted mostly of video tapes and DVDs to prove consistent patterns of mangling of tapes by the Iglesia ni Cristo on statements made by Soriano. An example was when Soriano was asking for 3.6 million on January 10, 2004; the mangled tape was shown in Ang Tamang Daan aired over Net 25 on March 29, 2004 that Soriano was asking for 6 trillion.

Incidentally, private complainants Bernardo Santiago and Marianito Cayao were excommunicated by Bro. Eli Soriano from Ang Dating Daan congregation, after which they joined the Iglesia ni Cristo.

Daniel Veridiano needs financial aid

Daniel Veridiano used to be the breadwinner in his family until doctors diagnosed him to be suffering from end-stage renal disease in 2008.

Since then, the 34-year-old bachelor has stopped working at New Era University to make way for his dialysis sessions at New Era Hospital which, like the university, is also run by the Iglesia ni Cristo, a religious sect of which he is a member.

“My father and I now rely on my sister who has a family of her own,” Veridiano, resident of Sta. Cruz, Manila, said in Filipino.

According to him, he and his family used to manage but money has become tight. Right now, they cannot afford the cost of his 12-times-a-month dialysis sessions which cost P2,500 per treatment.

“I had hoped to be able to work again so that my father and I won’t be a burden anymore to my sister,” he said.

Those who want to help him can call 0939-3911600. Donations are welcome through his Security Bank account with account number 0051-236646-337.

Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/54239/sick-man-needs-financial-aid#ixzz2msWBEkzb

VICARIUS FILII DEI USED TWICE BY POPE PAUL VI IN OFFICIAL PAPAL DECREES

I will show you an evidence that the title "Vicarivs Filii Dei" was once used by the pope

VICARIUS FILII DEI USED TWICE BY POPE PAUL VI
IN OFFICIAL PAPAL DECREES

Vicarius Filii Dei was used twice by Pope Paul VI in documents found on the Vatican's web site. These are Apostolic Constitutions, which are the highest form of official Papal decree in the Roman Catholic Church and are issued with binding legal authority. Historically these decrees were known as papal bulls, the name referring to the lead metal seal (bulla) attached to authenticate the document. As a general rule, the superscription that opens papal bulls typically reads:

NAME (without ordinal number) EPISCOPUS, SERVUS SERVORUM DEI, AD PERPETUAM REI MEMORIAM

So, the following Apostolic Constitutions begin:

PAULUS, EPISCOPUS, SERVUS SERVORUM DEI, AD PERPETUAM REI MEMORIAM
PAUL, BISHOP, SERVANT OF THE SERVANTS OF GOD, FOR EVERLASTING REMEMBRANCE OF THE MATTER

Bafianae (January 11, 1968), Decree of Paul VI elevating the Prefecture Apostolic of Bafia, Cameroon, to a Diocese:

Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Commentarium Officiale, vol. LX (1968), n. 6, pp. 317-319. Libreria Editrice Vaticana. ISBN 8820960680, 9788820960681.
Scans: Title page - 317 - 318 - 319.

Adorandi Dei Filii Vicarius et Procurator, quibus numen aeternum summam Ecclesiae sanctae dedit, ...
As the worshipful Son of God's Vicar and Caretaker, to whom the eternal divine will has given the highest rank of the holy Church, ...

Church attendance in the Philippines is declining

Catholics' corruption of Morals as attested by a Catholic priest

 

“ I am SORRY TO CONFESS that CORRUPTION OF MORALS is too often found among professing CATHOLICS. We cannot close our eyes to the painful fact that too many of them, far from living up to the teachings of their Church, are sources of melancholy scandal.

“It must be that scandals come, but woe to him by whom the scandal cometh.” I also admit that the SIN OF CATHOLICS IS MORE HEINOUS IN THE SIGHT OF GOD than that of their separated brethren, because they abuse more grace. ”

—— James Cardinal Gibbons, FAITH OF OUR FATHERS

Nearly one of 10 Pinoy Catholics thinking of leaving Church, poll finds

Pollster Social Weather Stations' February survey has found that 9.2 percent, or nearly one out of every 10 Catholics who are registered voters, "sometimes think of leaving the Church."

Though they have no data from the past which would show a trend of Filipino Catholics renouncing their religion, pollster Social Weather Stations said Sunday that its recent survey gave credence to the assertion of Jesuit priest and university president Fr. Joel Tabora SJ that "people have been leaving the Catholic Church," partly as a result of "theological bullying."

SWS said it took the survey on its own account, "as a public service" in response to a blog post by Tabora who also wrote, “It is time, I think, for [SWS president] Mahar Mangahas to take out his social survey tools to help us understand what is happening.”

Broken down, of the Catholics who sometimes think of leaving the Church:

- 4.9 percent considered themselves very religious
- 9.1 percent considered themselves somewhat religious
- 16.1 percent considered themselves not very religious
- 57.3 percent said they have no religious belief.

The pollster conducted a poll among 1,200 registered voters from February 15 to 17 which dealt with four matters:

- thinking about leaving the Catholic Church (asked of Catholics only)
- church attendance
- self-comparison of church attendance at present with attendance five years ago
- self-assessed religiosity

SWS said Tabora "had no hand” in designing the questionnaire.

Of the 9.2 percent of Catholics who sometimes think of leaving the Church, 2.5 percent said they "strongly agree" and 6.7 percent "somewhat agree" with the statement, "Sometimes I think that I might leave the Catholic Church."

This was the first time SWS fielded such a question and thus it did not have earlier data that would establish if there was a trend.

However, the poll did reveal that thoughts of leaving the Catholic Church are more common among Catholics "who do not consider themselves as very religious, who attend Church monthly at most, and whose church attendance is less now than five years ago."

In terms of church attendance, Catholics who sometimes think of leaving the Church included:

- 5.4 percent among weekly churchgoers
- 7.1 percent among those who attend several times a month
- 12.9 percent among those who attend once a month
- 14.5 percent among those who attend several times a year
- 18.0 percent among those who attend once a year at most.

The survey covered not only Catholics but other religions. Of the 1,200 voters surveyed, 81 percent were Catholics, 6 percent Protestants, 3 percent Iglesia ni Cristo, and 3 percent of other Christian denominations.

And the "slightly downward" trend of religious-service attendance applied to Catholics, Iglesia ni Cristo members and Muslims as well.

The exceptions are the Protestants and other Christians among whom more attend “more frequently” than those who do “less frequently.”

Church attendance

The SWS survey showed 43 percent of respondents attend church/masjid at least once a week, while 22 percent attend church/masjid two or three times a month.

Another 21 percent attend once a month, nine percent attend two to 11 times a year and 5 percent attend once a year at most.

"Only 37 percent of Catholics attend church weekly. In comparison, there are nearly twice as many of other Christians who are weekly churchgoers: 64 percent among Protestants, 70 percent among Iglesia ni Cristos and 62 percent among other Christians," it said.

It added 75 percent of Muslims attend masjid at least weekly.

SWS said that in 70 SWS surveys of church attendance from 1991 to 2013, weekly attendance was always lower among Catholics in general.

The SWS said the highest recorded weekly church attendance among Filipinos was 66 percent in July 1991, the first time SWS asked the question.

It added the highest recorded weekly church attendance among Catholics was 64 percent, also in July 1991.

Among all Filipinos, the 43 percent weekly church attendance in February 2013 matches the 43-percent low first recorded in March 2008.

The SWS added the latest 37 percent weekly church attendance of Catholics in February 2013 matches the all-time low 37 percent weekly church attendance of Catholics in March 2008.

It added the decline in Catholics' weekly church attendance from 1991 to 2013 is highly significant, statistically speaking.

Five year trend

The survey also revealed that 54 percent of Catholics said their frequency of church attendance is the same now as it was five years ago, in 2008.

But 18 percent said they attend church more frequently in 2013 than in 2008, while 28 percent said they attend less frequently in 2013 than five years ago, for a net difference of -9.

Among Protestants, 26 percent attend church more frequently now, while 14 percent said they do so less frequently now, for a net difference of +12.

Among Iglesia ni Cristos, 14 percent attend church more frequently now, while 36 percent attend less frequently now, for a net difference of -22.

Among other Christians, 26 percent attend church more frequently now and 25 percent attend less frequently now, for a net difference of +1.

Among Muslims, 14 percent attend masjid more frequently now, and 40 percent attend less frequently now, for a net difference of -26.

Religious affiliation

From 1991 to 2013, SWS said the average annual percentage of adults identifying themselves as Catholics in the SWS surveys varied between a high of 88 percent in 1997 and a low of 80 percent in 2007.

It said this indicates "a very slight, but statistically significant, downward trend in the 22-year period."

SWS said that in 1991 and 1994, 85 percent of adults reported themselves as Catholics, and 87 percent in 1996 and 88 percent in 1997.

But this declined to 83 percent in 1998, went up to 85 percent in 1999 and 2000, 82 percent in 2001, and 84 percent in 2002.

"From 2003 to the present it has fluctuated narrowly between 83 percent and 80 percent. The latest proportion of 81 percent in 2013 is statistically less than the initial 85 percent of 1991," SWS said.

Self-assessed religiosity

In the survey, only 29 percent of Catholics consider themselves very religious, compared to 50 percent among Protestants, 43 percent among Iglesia ni Cristo and 41 percent among those from other Christian denominations.

Among Muslims, 38 percent consider themselves very religious.

"Compared with other religious groups, Catholics are the least religious," the SWS said.

The February 2013 Pre-Election Survey was conducted from February 15 to 17, using face-to-face interviews of 1,200 registered voters divided into random samples of 300 each in Metro Manila, Balance of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

Sampling error margins of ±3% for national percentages and ±6% for area percentages applied to the survey. — DVM/HS, GMA News