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It was not an agreement, but an understanding, between the government and the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) that led to the end of the church’s mass protest action.
Interior and Local Secretary Mar Roxas particularly denied rumors that the INC ended the protest because the government agreed to supposed terms to force Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to resign.
“Ang nangyari ay nagkaroon ng paliwanagan. Nilinaw ng pamahalaan na hindi pinupuntirya ang INC, na hindi special treatment, for or against, na dumadaan lang ito sa proseso (What happened was that explanations were made. The government made it clear that we were not cracking down on the INC. There is no special treatment or any kind. We just went through the process),” said Roxas in an interview over dzMM.
Roxas said that the government also explained to the INC that the government had to act on a complaint filed by an expelled minister because it is a duty.
“‘Yung kilos ng pamahalaan ay hindi nakatutok o di personal sa kahit sino, pero dahil lang po may nagsampa ng reklamo. Hindi naman pong puwedeng balewalain yun di ba (What the government did was simply a response to a complaint. It’s not a personal attack against anyone. We can’t neglect a legal complaint),” said Roxas.
The talks between the government and INC, which happened last Sunday upon President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III’s call, centered on the peace and order amid the rallies.
Roxas said the government explained that while the law recognizes the right of INC members to express themselves on the streets, they should not infringe on the rights of others.
This article has been re-published with permission from ABS-CBNnews.com.
