How peculiar: Foodcourt and the INC

I logged out from work late last night. From Pearl Drive in Ortigas, I walk to Shangri-La Plaza Mall in Edsa-Shaw Blvd. to get my train ride going home.

Almost hungry, I decided to have a bite at the said mall's food court. It is downstairs, at the basement level. As my foot touched the last step of the stairs, I turned my head to the right and I saw that all seats of the food court are taken. Those without seats are sitting at the floor. Some are eating, some are chatting. Nothing peculiar. I see this almost everyday.

As I approach a certain food stall, I saw near its entrance a guy wearing a light blue polo shirt with an Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) logo. Nothing peculiar again, I said to myself. The food stall is also occupied with people. But I noticed that some of them are wearing the same shirt of the guy I saw earlier.

I started to roamed around and there they are -- INC members eating and chatting at the foodcourt. Now, that is peculiar. I wonder why they are here.

Ah! Some INC members are staging a protest action at the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Ermita since Thursday. They are reiterating the principle of the separation of Church and State. This is about the alleged illegal detention of some INC ministers loyal to a faction of the Manalo family who heads the INC.

Are these people at the foodcourt will proceed at the DOJ to strengthen the ranks of their fellow INC members there? I totally forgot to eat and headed straight to the train station.

Upon reaching home, I relayed to our family about the INC members being at the foodcourt. Then the TV flashed a breaking news about the INC staging another protest at Edsa-Shaw Blvd.

Does the security service of the mall haven't had any idea about the swelling of INC members at its premises last night? How about the local government of Mandaluyong? Why were they caught unaware about this incident?

But the biggest question here is this: why are they insisting that the conflicts of the Manalo family be considered as "internal and MUST BE RESOLVED BY THEM" when in fact a case is filed citing illegal detention?

The issue gets bigger day by day.

I just hope this INC hullabaloo end soon. And the rule of law, and reason, prevail.

29 August 2015