Tagaytay City Police attempt to obstruct ADD Bible Exposition

Tagaytay City, Philippines (04.17.08) – A group of police officials invaded a public place that should have accommodated the popular Bible Exposition of the Ang Dating Daan (The Old Path) group as the venue for the night’s event.

News of the incident was delivered directly by Eli Soriano or Bro. Eli as he is most known for, during his opener of the program. The renowned host of the ADD program reported before the public the pressure that the ADD production/technical staff experienced from police officials of Tagaytay City.

Despite a proper agreement the ADD group made with the in-charge of the venue and the office of the city administrator, these police officials threatened the respective group who were setting up then to cease from the anticipated event that night.

When asked by a staff why officials were locking up the permitted venue, an officer implied, “Just don’t ask any more questions . . . there’s a pressure above”.

An agreement between the ADD event coordinators and the person in-charge of the venue was that the former would provide their own electricity generator because of possible electricity problem.

The ADD group tried to seek help regarding the police intervention and reported the incident as well to Tagaytay City Mayor, but for unknown reasons, the Mayor was not available.

Soriano reported that there have been 7 or more of this form of similar attempts to obstruct the Bible Exposition he is hosting, and the recent incident is the latest.

“Our country’s present administration is the most corrupt according to the news reports and surveys. However, corruption started from influence,” the host said during his discourse.

The Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) group is publicly known to be in opposition to the ADD group. Incidentally, the INC was reported to have supported the present President of the Philippines via bloc voting. It was Year 2005 when President Arroyo made a public apology through broadcast, admitting that she cheated in the 2004 elections by way of conversing with Virgilio Garcilliano of the ill-reputed Hello Garci tapes.

Bro. Eli implied that through experience, the ADD group cannot seek help anymore from the country’s government for justice. Moreover, the prominent media companies in the country may not take part in reporting incidents like this if threatened by those in positions, if not twisting the information.

He often cite in his broadcasts that the congregation he's leading is the only religion in the Philippines that is being singled out by the present government with its' constitutional religious freedom.

Notwithstanding the attempt to disrupt the Bible exposition, somehow the event successfully went on and accommodated more than 2,500 guests in the Olivarez Convention Center, a privately owned venue. 

Soriano with his program, Ang Dating Daan, was awarded by an international award giving body, Gawad Amerika, on November 18, 2006 under the category, the Most Informative Religious Program.