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.
Saturday, March 8, 2014
Sunday, December 8, 2013
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.
Those who want to help him can call 0939-3911600. Donations are welcome through his Security Bank account with account number 0051-236646-337.
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.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
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, ...
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, ...
Saturday, April 13, 2013
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
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
Saturday, March 16, 2013
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