08 June 2015

Is "property being sold" a proof of corruption and anomaly?



SOME PROPERTIES OF THE
CHURCH WERE SOLD!
SO WHAT?

Does it prove hat there is corruption if the 
Church sold some of her properties?


IN the article entitled “BRO. JUN SANTOS: ‘OH WE BOUGHT THIS, WE BOUGHT THAT’ -- THIS IS WHAT HE IS NOT SAYING: ‘WE ARE SELLING THIS, WE ARE SELLING THAT’” posted in their blog last June 8, 2015, those opposing the Church Administration claim that there are corruption and anomalies happening in the Church today and the selling of Church properties proves this. This is what they said:

“These are just but a sneak peek of the first batch of PRIME Properties of the Iglesia Ni Cristo which is now FOR SALE. I had to pay a premium just to be able to get these documents out, each compilation of documents per property is quite thick but contains all the necessary requirements for PROPERTY ACQUISITION FROM ANY INTERESTED BUYER.
“This is an ANOMALY. Before, we didn’t sell properties because sooner or later, they can and will be used for building churches and/or other Church related infrastructures. SO WHY IS THE SANGGUNIAN SELLING THESE PRIME PROPERTIES AGAIN…? Are we really in a dire need of money? Bro. Glicerio B. Santos Jr. can shout at the top of his voice that there is no anomaly in the Finance of the church, BUT this rampant disposal of church properties at a very low appraisal value IS A GLARING PROOF THAT THERE IS AN ANOMALY (def: deviation from the norm).”

Take note that they even gave a definition of the word “anomaly.” He said, “…ANOMALY (def: deviation from norm).” So, for those opposing the Church Administration, the selling of Church properties is an “anomaly” – a deviation from the rules or by-laws of the Church. REALLY?


“CONTRA FACTUM NON HABET ARUMENTUM”
("Against Facts you cannot Argue")

To those “opposing the Church Administration” please answer these following points:

(1) First of all, these properties that been sold are no longer needed by the Church or the Church has no longer use for them, for example those properties in Baguio and Tagaytay are “rest houses” and no locale, district or department using it. If those opposing the Church Administration will argue that these “rest houses” in Baguio and Tagaytay are still needed so it must not  be sold, NEEDED BY WHO? Antonio Ebangelista and the people behind him?

(2) It is not against the law that the Church sell properties no loner needed. This is what the law says:

“Section 164. Such corporations shall have the right to purchase, hold, mortgage, or sell real estate for its church...” (The Corporation Law of the Philippines, Section 164.)

Those “opposing the Church Administration” stated that “anomaly is defined as “deviation from the norm.” Is it against the law to “sell properties” especially those no longer needed by the Church? The law states, “Such corporations shall HAVE THE RIGHT to purchase, hold, mortgage, or SELL real estate for its church…” Thus, selling church’s properties are not a deviation from the “norm.” Thus, selling Church properties is NOT AN ANOMALY because it is not a deviation from the law, it is not against the law, and instead, there is a provision in the law stating the Church Administration has the authority to do so.

(3) The Church is registered as a religious corporation or a corporation sole:

“Section 154. For the administration of the temporalities of any religious denomination, society, or church, and the management of the estates and properties thereof, it shall be lawful for the bishop, chief priest, or presiding elder of any such religious denomination, society, or church to become a corporation sole unless inconsistent with the rules, regulations, or discipline of his religious denomination, society, or church or forbidden by competent authority thereof.” (The Corporation Law of the Philippines (Act No. 1459), s.v. “Religious Corporation,” Section 154.)

Thus, it is lawful (valid and legitimate) that the Church Administration as corporation sole “to purchase, hold, mortgage, or sell real state for its church, charitable, benevolent, or educational purposes.” Also, according to the law the administrator of the “temporalities” (properties) of the Church is the Executive Minister as the “corporation unipersonal” or the “corporation sole.” Thus, IT WAS THE DECISION OF THE CHURCH ADMINISTRATION (THE EXECUTIVE MINISTER OF THE IGLESIA NI CRISTO) AND NOT ANY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SANGGUNIAN TO SELL THOSE PROPERTIES NO LONGER NEEDED BY THE CHURCH, AND THE CHURCH ADMINISTRATION HAS THE RIGHT OR AUTHORITY TO DO SO.

(4) during the administration of Brother Eraño G. Manalo, a property was bought also in Baguio City from Catholic nuns. Ka Erdy’s plan why this property was purchased is to build an extension of the CEM (College of Evangelical Ministry) in this area. However, because of some circumstances, the plan of building a cem extension in Baguio City did not materialize. So, because the Church has no longer use of that property, Ka Erdy decided to sell it. The Church also sold other properties during the time of Brother Eraño G. Manalo, and even during the time of Brother Felix Y. Manalo.

(5) If the Church has no longer use for a property, the Church Administration has all the “legal right” to decide if that property will be sold or not. Why sell a property no longer needed by the Church? There are expenses in maintaining those properties like paying the necessary taxes, and laso the upkeep ,maintenance and security of those properties. Thus, selling properties that the Church has no longer use is not an anomaly or not an irregularity, but a proof of the Church Administration's effiecientcy and competency in managing the finances of the Church.

What is an anomaly or an irregularity is maintaining those properties the Church has no longer use for them.

(6) Like the “mehoras” of a certain locale or district that if they are no longer needed these “mehoras” will be sold or be disposed (surely in accordance with the Church’s regulations). For example, if a new House of Worship was built for a certain locale, the old House of Worship, if it is no longer needed, it will be scraped and be sold.  

(7) If a locale or a district sold “mehoras” no longer needed, does this follow that the locale or district is in debt? Non-sequitur my friend, non-sequitur. Not because the Church sold properties no longer needed it follows that the Church is in debt.

Thus, It is not an anomaly but only being PRACTICAL, EFFICIENT and COMPETENT to dispose properties no longer needed or the Church no longer has use for them.


AS LONG AS THE FACT REMAINS

Those “opposing the Church Administration” boasted that what he mentioned in his article are the first batch of the properties for sale:

“Like what I’ve said, this is JUST the FIRST BATCH for the Properties FOR SALE HERE IN THE PHILIPPINES. You’ll jaw will drop for the coming articles on the rest of the FOR SALE PROPERTIES. This is just the FOR SALE PROPERTIES, wait til you see THE ALREADY SOLD PROPERTIES.”

OK, go ahead. But, even though you can show hundreds or even thousands of Church properties that been sold, the fact remains: (1) the properties being sold are those no longer needed or the Church has no longer use for it; (2) the law states that the Church as a religious corporation “Such corporations shall HAVE THE RIGHT to purchase, hold, mortgage, or SELL real estate for its church…”; (3) It was the decision of the Church Administration (the Executive Minister of the Iglesia Ni Cristo) and not any of the members of the Sanggunian to sell those properties no longer needed by the church because it is the Church Administration who has all the legal rights to decide to such matter; (4) the past administration also did it; (5) It is not an anomaly but only being practical, efficient and competent to disposed properties no longer needed or we no longer has use for it; (6) it is not against the "tuntunin" and "prcatices" of the Church; and (7) it doesn't follow (non sequitur) that if the Church sold properties it means that the Church is bankrupt or in debt.

Again, those opposing the Church Administration boasted:

“Because THEY KNOW THAT WHAT I AM SHOWING HERE IS THE TRUTH. UNDENIABLE TRUTH! I dare you to prove me wrong. Show your documents! Show your evidences! But I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for it.”

This is  ace of half-true and half false black propaganda to taint the image of the Church Administration. There are properties of the Church being sold is truth, however the other half of your statement is indeed false. Not because there are properties of the Church being sold, it means that there are anomalies in the finances of the Church. The whole truth are the facts that we enumerated which the people expect that you will answer. HOWEVERM THESE FACTS INDEED PROVE YOU WRONG!  


Brethren:
Will you believe a person who you doesn’t know and who cannot even reveal his identity saying there is corruption in the Church THAN our beloved Executive Minister, Brother Eduardo V. Manalo, who says that “there is no corruption in the Church”?

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