NP Rank:
Inquirer is now party to harassment of Ang Dating Daan preacher
Negative and erroneous news were reportedly coming out the past weeks in the Philippines against a religious leader who is a staunch critic of the influential Philippine-based Iglesia ni Cristo. Citizen journalists and bloggers claimed these as part of a propaganda and clear sign of religious persecution.
The tabloid media are widely used in the religious feud between the Erano Manalo's Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) and Bro. Eli Soriano of the Ang Dating Daan. Recently, the broadsheets are seen the latest participants in this propaganda by Soriano's detractors and critics.
The two groups' riff stemmed from Soriano's sharp critique of the doctrines of the INC such as Christ as mere man and holding Holy Supper in the morning.
Tabloid newspapers are generally sensationalistic and biased in the Philippines. Usually, facts and information are muddled with gossips and controversies. The Philippine Daily Inquirer and the Philippine Star, two of the Philippine's leading broadsheets, recently came out with news reports that citizen journalists claimed erroneously included aspects of a dismissed case of the religious leader.
The article goes on to say that Soriano was "indicted for the rape of his male follower at the regional trial court of Macabebe, Pampanga," but the writer conveniently forgot to mention that the case has been dismissed on January 26, 2006 as penned by Alexandro Lopez, Assistant Provincial Prosecutor of Region III, San Fernando, Pampanga and as approved by Jesus Y. Manarang, the Provincial Prosecutor.
Accordingly, the document mentioned in an article titled Portrait of the "raped" man for whom the Interpol would mobilize by Jane Abao showed that the case filed by Daniel Veridiano against Soriano was already junked by courts -
"The foregoing facts, together with the rift going on between the INC and the ADD, which we cannot deny, only show that the complainant was indisputably ill-motivated from the inception, and these necessarily, without any scintilla of doubt, substantially affect, if not lessen, his credibility as an unperjured affiant. Wherefore, premises having been considered, the undersigned recommends the DISMISSAL, as he hereby DISMISSES, the complaint for rape filed by Daniel Veridiano against Eliseo Soriano docketed herein as I.S. N0. 05-I-2459 and 2460."
Among other latest erroneous media coverages include People's Journal's Alfred Dalizon report of Soriano being on Interpol's watchlist of most wanted. Dalizon erroneously reported that a Red Notice from the Interpol is an international warrant.
Alfred P. Dalizon, writing in World News Network on Journal online dated August 19, 2008, said that International Evangelist, Bro. Eliseo Soriano, is wanted for rape and that an international warrant of arrest is out for him. The story did not include much details but came with generic terms and did not explain how come the Interpol is suddenly in the picture. The offices he mentioned like the Philippine National Police did not even carry a single name.
"No conclusion could be made then except that new information on religion in the country has to be made, Abao said writing in Newsvine. There is religious persecution in the country ... More importantly, it has affirmed the role of media that cover these secrets from the eyes of the peering public."
To date, Abao's article which was published August 26 were only able to gather 126 votes and 329 comments. Participants are unanimous in lambasting the justice and media systems in the country.
Crowd Power
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truthoriented
Manila, Antipolo, Rizal, Philippines




Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (10)
at 20:27 on September 6th, 2008
truthoriented, I like this story. It's good stuff.
Very interesting read - thanks
at 18:24 on September 7th, 2008
These people are so desperate to destroy Bro. Eli, desperate enough that they are using the press/media in doing so. This is sensationalism to condition the minds of their readers that what was written was really the truth. They resort in this kind of battle because they knew from the start that they cannot defend their teachings. And about that Interpol thing, Bro. Eli is not a fugitive! You can see him everyday 24/7 he is not hiding himself from anyone!
at 23:35 on September 7th, 2008
the bible says in John 9:25 and it reads.."He answered and said, Wether he be a sinner I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see."
and I know as a member of the Church of God Intl.. I too was blind before and because of Bro. Eli Soriano now I can see...
To the members of INC of Manalo, can you say to yourselves honestly that before you're blind too and now you can see?With all those bad right ups either in print or tv which are being done by your so called "ministers"....why don't you tell you're so called "sugo" Mr. Manalo to face our Bro Eli once and for all and see who is really the preacher being guided by the Holy Spirit of God...
If you're sugo is the real one then, why is it that as of this moment he doesnt want to defend your doctrine of "santa cena with abuluyan"?Can he explain it in tv personally like what our Bro Eli is doing?Instead of putting a tv show which only tell lies regarding our Preacher, why don't you put up "Ask Mr. Manalo and the bible will answer" so the public will ask your sugo if he really is God sent?
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Eph. 6:12
TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!
AMEN.
at 03:08 on September 8th, 2008
It's quite a disgrace and a shame that the Philippine media is getting more and more tarnished these days just because of the influence of some people claiming to be advocates of the truth but in fact, they're the ones committing unethical and immoral acts that are very much abominable in the society and in front of The Lord. This is what this "worldly" power does. It corrupts everything that were naturally good.
at 07:16 on September 10th, 2008
On September 8, a day after this report has been posted, the Inquirer again reported what will not happen worldwide but only in the Philippine media - a request for reschedule of the hearing of an accused. Is that data worth reporting for the world to see? Here is the link.
The reporter, Tonette Orejas, on the latter part of her article even complained that security personnel at the headquarter of the Ang Dating Daan told her that no officers or officials were coming to give her comments on the issue. Look, she just went at the headquarter without notice and she expect a really princely treatment right on just because she carried the badge - PDI journalist.
For one, the reporter forgot that as sign of courtesy, she should have requested for a schedule for the said interview or request for information that she dutifully require to write for her story. It appears that Orejas was so excited to write her article, even for a second, forgetting that as an ethical journalist, she need to get the whole breadth of her story.
Isn't it that if one needs to talk to a personality, the president of the land or the chief executive of a blue chip corporation, at least a simple courtesy must be observed like writing a request correspondence?
It looks like Ms. Orejas forget or intentionally forget her obligation, that as a journalist for one of the Philippines' most trusted publications, she has a very weighty responsibility for her readers, the people who are thirsty for accurate, sensible and responsible reporting.
Or, she is also now committed to paid journalism? I hope not to believe. But it looks the timing of the news reports the past weeks in tabloids, and recently by broadsheets like the Philippine Inquirer and the Philippine Star, reeks of that dank smell done under the table.
at 07:18 on September 10th, 2008
Yes, you said it - Very desperate! Anagernale, you made a very good observation. These people know very well that Bro. Soriano is not the person his enemies portray him for the people to believe.
Definitely, why would an innocent person hide! You see, he is very busy rounding the globe now, preaching from one country after another. The old man once said in his youtube video that he is racing against time because he is already old and only got this great chance to tour when he was old.
And then came his detractors who never cared enough but their bellies. If you asked why, it is simple - the preacher they accused of raping an excommunicated member of the Church tells the world of the shenanigans, filth and schemes of these religious groups.
That Veridiano is in fact a sodomite and the rapist of 14 male members of the Ang Dating Daan, and he even confessed in a letter and his video on Youtube that he really committed that sexual crime himself and that he believe that Bro. Soriano is a good man.
You also relax. You will see soon who will win victorious in this fight.
at 10:51 on September 13th, 2008
AMEN.
at 21:39 on September 15th, 2008
expect the worst.
but never loose hope.
for the best is still to come.
at 19:30 on October 21st, 2008
Articles on broadsheets should be well researched and must be balance to see both sides of the story, but if a certain broadsheet will be bias, it should be bias to the truth...As a reader, I always wanted to read the facts..I don't want to be left with questions or uncertainty on some base less reports or facts left out to make one side appear to be the good side and the other as the bad side.The public has the right to know, to know what is the truth...don't let a prestigious newspaper be a vehicle for harassment and religious persecutions..Some articles that appear lately in the Philippine Daily Inquirer in my own opinion lacks credibility and seems to come from a certain group with a mission, and they wanted to inculcate something in the mind of the reading public. Public perception is very important, it will make or break a person and so as integrity to what we are publishing.
at 23:05 on November 1st, 2008
I did not really expect this kind of attitude of news gathering. especially in that kind of newspaper. The PDI has been known for years to convey news as it really happens, without biases or misinformation. But with that incident the word TRUST is being put in to the sphere of doubts and confusion. If respected newspapers act that way now, what assurance can we see in those that are not really have their names as good news informer. THIS IS NOT HOW TESTED NEWS INSTITUTION BEHAVES. But if the Executives of PDI did not know anyting about this. It should not be tolerated and people behind this misleading and misinformation should be rectified or should be kicked out of the company. If PDI presents their news that way, can we trust them anymore?