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The Bulacan provincial government has deployed hundreds of policemen on Sun, Jul 26, to secure the 101st anniversary celebration of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) at the Philippine Arena.
The event comes at a time when the influential religious group is rocked by controversy.
Last Thu, Jul 23, the INC announced the expulsion of Tenny Manalo, widow of former executive minister Erdy Manalo. Tenny’s son, Angel, was also expelled.
The two had claimed in a YouTube video that their lives are in danger and that some INC ministers had been abducted.
The INC has denied these allegations and also rejected claims of corruption.
Meanwhile, on Sun, Jul 26, the INC centennial celebration has caused heavy traffic along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) with the build-up starting from the Valenzuela area to the Philippine Arena.
To ease the slow-moving traffic, zipper lanes were opened along Meycauayan and Marilao up to the Bocaue exit.
According to NLEX Traffic Control Operations, the traffic build-up started at around 1 a.m. due to heavy influx of vehicles bound for the INC centennial celebration.
Authorities said another reason behind the road congestion was the illegally parked vehicles of some INC members along NLEX.
Authorities have already confiscated some of the vehicle’s plates and its owners were advised to claim it from the Land Transportation Office with corresponding fines.
The service for the end of INC’s centennial celebration ended at around 10am.
Some attendees said Bro. Ed Manalo spoke in front of thousands of INC members but did not mention anything about the recent issues involving the religious group. He just reiterated that INC members should strengthen their faith. —from a report by Carolyn Bonquin, ABS-CBN News
This article has been re-published with permission from ABS-CBNnews.com.
