Newsbreak Online
Saturday, 02 May 2009
Political considerations may have come into play in the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the suspension of the religious group Ang Dating Daan’s TV program, according to Court insiders we talked to. (Click here to read “SC sustains suspension of Ang Dating Daan”)
Ang Dating Daan (ADD) is a sect that Eliseo Soriano formed and has led since he broke away from the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC). Sorian, using colorful language, has been harshly criticizing the INC on his TV program. And for his diatribe against an Iglesia ni Cristo minister, the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board suspended the ADD program for three months. The tribunal upheld that suspension.
The ruling may not have been for purely for legal reasons, and Court insiders and observers believe that the INC had a hand in it. The ponente was Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr., who is widely known to owe his appointment to the Supreme Court to the INC. We wrote before how Velasco secured the support of the INC to get the President to name him to the tribunal. (Click here to read “Stacking the Court“)
Considering this, observers say, Velasco should have inhibited himself from the case, much more from writing the decision.
We also learned that Justice Consuelo Ynares-Santiago was initially against upholding the suspension of ADD’s program, but changed her mind. Coming from the political Ynares clan in Rizal, the justice may have considered the political ramifications of voting against the bloc-voting INC.
Posted by kotawinters on May 2, 2009 at 3:35 pm
BLOC VOTING
How it can control the decision-making of government officials of the land.
It maybe good if not forced.
The problem is that their members are said to be threatened with excommunication if they go against the wishes of their head.
Posted by cristah on May 2, 2009 at 3:46 pm
Bad guys never had enough, don’t they?
These people will never stop unless they will be able to get their hands on the real person –
BRO.ELISEO SORIANO!
I think, the OLD MAN didn’t do anything to harm any man.
He is just speaking what he have to say – THE TRUTH.
As a human being, we have the freedom of expression, speech and religion,
are they going to take it away to us also?
These corrupt officials will do everything on their power to terminate this
OLD MAN.
Power?Money?Fame?Glory?
Aren’t they have it all already?
If there is still the real sense of JUSTICE in any country,
they will not allow this madness be done to an OLD MAN
who intends and devote himself for the glory of “the BIG GUY” and
to let all people know the TRUTH!
“Snow White” is really forcing the dwarfs to make the move, aren’t she?
“Prince Charming” is giving his all support for this purpose –
while hiding in his stone palace.
Posted by Ponyo on May 2, 2009 at 4:07 pm
The recent ruling by the Supreme Court was obviously tainted with prejudice and bias against Bro. Eli Soriano, the evangelist-host of Ang Dating Daan program on UNTV 37.
As reported, Newsbreak Online revealed that there are indeed some influential hands who’s behind the recent ruling. There is no doubt that the Iglesia ni Cristo, the bloc-voting group, influenced this case from day one to last.
This is a very serious blow against the preacher’s rights as a broadcaster of over 25 years to free speech and his rights as a preacher was violated immensely. This means also that other brave and courageous broadcasters and journalists may no longer be immune after all to their right to free speech.
This is the first time in the history of the Philippines, and probably in whole of Asia, that a religious program was banned for until heaven-knows when by the MTRCB just because it would not like to see the preacher appear on any television program.
However, to the more critical readers of the news accounts, there are few questions left unanswered.
Why did the SC took more than four years (2005-2009) to resolve a very simple case like this?
What are claimed to be “obscene” words that Soriano uttered on his television program? Is calling on television a certain minister who lied as liar obscene already?
And more.
Coupled with poor research, most newspaper reports erroneously wrote that ADD is the name of the group that Soriano is the presiding minister, and that the said preacher broke up with the INC to form his own group.
The ADD program is more than 25 years now but this is the first time that it received such blatant suspension order for an indefinite period of time.
And my observations to most reports are what appear to be one that came from a single PR mill, except that most newspapers are gracious enough to lend authors name to these reports. And the said mill appear to be the same influential group whose been playing with their own game plan ever since they copied Bro. Soriano’s program (theirs is called Ang Tamang Daan). That plan is to destroy, humiliate and drain all of Bro. Eliseo Soriano’s resources at all cost.
So where do we expect balanced and fair reporting here?
Posted by Josephine on May 2, 2009 at 11:22 pm
Court decision to please the iglesia ni cristo? It was obvious and this had something to do with the BLOC VOTING.
This case is not new anyway, because it was also happened to our Lord Jesus Christ, even the Romans found Him guiltless, He had been crucified to please the chief priests and their rulers. (Mat. 27:23; Luk 23:23, 24:20)
It also happened to one of the leaders of the early Christian Church, Apostle Paul when the high priest Ananias, together with the elders and Tertullus, a false witness, went to Governor Felix and filed various accusations against him. Even they found Apostle Paul not guilty they left him bound to show pleasure unto Jews. (Acts 24:1-5; 25:1-9)
The same in the case of Brother Eli Soriano, even all the fabricated cases filed against him have been acquitted; the INC’s clout in the Supreme Court had easily twisted the decision of the Supreme Court. They are continuously chasing him even they are contacting the Interpol to put him in prison.
Therefore, it is clearly proven that the leaders of the true Christian Faith have the same fate. Similarly with all the accusers of the Way in the early Christian Church until in our times like the Romans, Jews and the INC are having the same devices as their father wills, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar and the father of it.” (John 8:44)
These are the prophecies of the Lord Jesus Christ –
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Mat 28:19-20)
“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” (Mat 24:14)
Surely, satan and his cohorts will never stop the propagation of the gospel of the kingdom in all nations as Brother Eli and his group is doing right now. To God be the Glory forever!
Posted by jonACS on May 3, 2009 at 12:39 am
liar is what i can tell you who made this report never in the wildest dream of bro.eli that he was a member of inc shame on you..you suck
Posted by Ponyo on May 3, 2009 at 11:51 am
On another level, the article can also be viewed as one that portrays the INC of Manalo on a different light. That the group is a very influential group. And by mentioning the magic phrase “bloc-voting INC,” the editorial impressed that the group can somehow carry aspiring politicians to national elections. Obviously, the result of the strategy of the INC to make it appear that it was this big and increase its network (and in turn, make politicians have something to pay in return of the votes).
Once again, I am suspicious that this article aims to highlight that Bro. Eli Soriano and his group, Members Church of God International, are victims of the lame justice system of the land. What the editorial piece seems to impress is that it only want to play safe by pleasing both the INC and the group of Bro. Soriano. Yes it is true that the right to free speech by Bro. Eli Soriano was suppressed here, but that is just a front. Because the patron here is the INC.
Lastly, and as a challenge: Can’t Newsbreak stand on its article and put the author’s name of the editorial piece? And can the writer of the piece disclose his religious affiliation and his affiliations?
Posted by kotawinters on May 3, 2009 at 12:26 pm
@ Ponyo,
Normally, editorials are without bylines because they stand for the position of the paper.
However, guests can write editorials and that is where bylines are provided.
Your speculations have some basis, yes. These write-ups may just be used for the purpose of flaunting INC power.
By repeating and repeating about power garnered from bloc voting, the public officials are reminded not to be so sure about their positions because heaven can shake that. And so, beware about your decisions.
What more – national elections is just around the corner.
Guile, they call that.
Posted by Makabagong Bona on May 3, 2009 at 3:20 pm
“Ang Dating Daan (ADD) is a sect that Eliseo Soriano formed and has led since he broke away from the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC)” – where is the newsbreak online writer getting his facts? He should have consulted the Soriano’s group first to confirm this – as this is a rumor that is obviously a pathetic ploy created by his enemies to degrade his credibility. Bro. Eli was never been an INC member nor minister there. Read his biography here http://elisoriano.com/life/
I’m glad you have linked this article in your blog, kotawinters. How I wanted to have my say with this news but I could not since the website does not have comment box. The good thing in this news is that at least newsbreak online have discerned that the case has to do something about pleasing the influential Iglesia ni Cristo, a diminishing sect in the philippines by the way.
Posted by Ponyo on May 4, 2009 at 2:47 am
Haha! Right on that Makabagong Bona that the INC is a diminishing sect! I just didn’t get it why politicians and even celebrities would ever go to Eranyo Manalo to get the endorsement of his flock? Politicians should really look deeply now into this sect.
Posted by kotawinters on May 4, 2009 at 2:55 am
@ Ponyo, Topwormwood
That is why repetitions about the INC power is also misleading them. It’s a cycle really. They serve the INC; afterwards they get bludgeoned from political debts.
Right, mutualism you said.
In the finale, they self-destruct. Spiritually, that is, if you can discern it.
Posted by topwormwood on May 3, 2009 at 4:34 pm
The INC Administratns and the Goverment concerned and involved officials are all opportunists in a mutualists.
“…Typically, opportunist political behaviour is criticized for being short-sighted or narrow-minded. That is, in the urge to make short-term political gains or preserve them, the appropriate relationship between the means being used and the overall goals being aimed for is overlooked. The result might well be, that “short term gain” leads to “long term pain….” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opportunism
The MTRCB suspends Ang Dating Daan program, but the overall goals being aimed for is overlooked, justice, freedom of expression, and religion!
So it seems they are the best examples.
“Mutualism is a biological interaction between two organisms, where each individual derives a fitness benefit, for example increased survivorship. Similar interactions within a species are known as co-operation….” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutualism
Where is bloc voting when the numbers are all lies, INC? Where are your expected bloc votes, Goverment officials when what promised has discrepancy as far as the actual INC members and tally is concerned?
“Many later mutualists argued that free competition would naturally push prices towards cost. Instead of a normative principle for individual transactions, the cost principle was a long-run tendency that would occur naturally as a result of the elimination of government regulation of the market economy….” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutualism_(economic_theory)
Just like the past government officials, they intervened with the freedom of religion and speech, with that, they live, they die, and they leave the masses in a long term pain.
And they are all parasites, they all gain while they exploit Brother Eli.
Posted by tipsterbox on May 4, 2009 at 5:46 am
“Once again, I am suspicious that this article aims to highlight that Bro. Eli Soriano and his group, Members Church of God International, are victims of the lame justice system of the land. What the editorial piece seems to impress is that it only want to play safe by pleasing both the INC and the group of Bro. Soriano. Yes it is true that the right to free speech by Bro. Eli Soriano was suppressed here, but that is just a front. Because the patron here is the INC.” – Ponyo
RIGHT! This issue was taken for granted and buried for so long, but every one who seems to be politically motivated and hungry for power is having a great feast of it today. Elections is months away, no wonder.
If one has read the other articles posted on other media sites, he’ll know that these write-ups are merely meant to establish the power of the INC to put and have someone stay in power.
But, those who want to ask favor from the INC might want to think again. Their bloc voting scheme isn’t the same as before. If they have thousands of members before. Today, they only have a few hundreds.
Posted by dragonslayer on May 9, 2009 at 4:56 am
“In the absence of proof and reason, he [Soriano] should not be penalized with the three-month suspension that works as a prior restraint on his speech,” Puno said.
In a separate dissenting opinion, Justice Antonio Carpio called the suspension “an unconstitutional prior restraint on freedom of expression” that should not be permitted.
Carpio said prior restraint may only be justified if the contents are either “pornography, false or misleading advertisement, advocacy of imminent lawless action, and (or) danger to national security.”
Carpio added: “Obviously, what petitioner uttered does not fall under any of the four.”
I salute men …real men with honor and dignity ( Justice Puno and Carpio) whose decisions were unbiased not even with the obvious Diliman pressure.
Shame on the MTRCB !!!
Posted by dette on June 24, 2009 at 3:33 pm
liars !!!
Posted by Arcon B. Agbuya on July 2, 2009 at 6:08 am
It’s hard to live in a place where there are unpleasant religions around like iglesia ni manalo.
-Vocabulary Review-
Synonyms for unpleasant: disagreeable, unlikable, horrible, horrid, distasteful, objectionable, obnoxious, repulsive, foul, bad, nasty…
How can they please a religion like such?
Posted by QouteEater on September 11, 2009 at 11:49 am
I have seen the movie Mr. Incredible. I have learned a thing from the animated movie.
Helen: Put these on. Your identity is your most valuable possession. Protect it. And if anything goes wrong, use your powers.
Violet: But you said never to use…
Helen: I know what I said!
[sighing]
Helen: Remember the bad guys on the shows you used to watch on Saturday mornings? Well, these guys aren’t like those guys. They won’t exercise restraint because you are children. They *will* kill you if they get the chance. Do *not* give them that chance.
The INC never exercise restraint even if they mask themselves with saintly robes and god is in their mouths. That’s because it’s natural to them.