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PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY April 16 - 30, 2016
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Dr. Regina Siongco
Iglesia Ni Cristo worker
seeks asylum in Canada
Fearing for his life,
Lowell Menorca II, one of the
main figures in the public
rift within the influential
Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) in
the Philippines, has fled to
Canada.
In his first media
interview after his arrival,
Menorca said in a global
exclusive by the ReyFort
Media Group on April 26,
2016 that he has filed
for refugee status. In the
interview, he was solemn
and tearful as he related
his journey of almost ten
months. His voice broke
and stops retelli ng his
story when he relates his fear for his wife and
daughter who were not able to travel with
him. Menorca was not able to bring along his
pregnant wife and two-year-old daughter. The
two are waiting for him to be able to bring
them to Canada.
Menorca related to Rosette Correa, editor
of ReyFort Media Group’s Philippine Asian
News Today and anchor of Philippine News
Canada, that from the Philippines, he and
his family travelled to Vietnam. From there,
they proceeded to Thailand. They stayed in
Thailand for a few weeks, finally deciding to
apply for a visa to Canada, where his sister
lives. While Menorca was granted a visa, his
wife and child were denied. Despite the difficult
decision, Menorca went on with his Canada
application, praying that his family will follow
him soon.
“I’m just hoping that I will get my family,”
Menorca said in the interview.
Previously, Menorca had accused the
INC leadership in the Philippines of posing a
threat to his life and safety.
The INC worker is being suspected by
the INC hierarchy of being part of a campaign
to discredit the leadership with issues of
corruption and other irregularities.
In his first Canadian interview, Menorca
denied participation in such campaign against
INC leaders.
However, Menorca also said that there
are many INC members who are now calling
themselves Defenders.
“These are people like me who are
standing for the truth, who want transparency,”
he said.
According to the 39-year-old father,
the problems within the INC have “not been
resolved”.
“It’s getting worse,” he said.
“My personal advocacy, which is being
embraced by a lot of Defenders all over the
world, is transparency,” Menorca said. “This is
what we and other Defenders pray for for the
church we have known as children, the church
we know that teaches love, compassion, truth
and fairness.”
Menorca has been expelled by the
church.
The INC rebel has a mother and sister in
Vancouver.
He arrived in Vancouver on April 1, the
birthday of his mother. He filed a refugee claim
upon his arrival before the Canada Border
Services Agency. His papers were processed
and completed early the next day, April 2,
WWW.PHILIPPINEASIANNEWSTODAY.COM
which was his birthday.
In a statement on April 27, Menorca
said that he was “granted conditional refugee
status”.
“I am now scheduled for a hearing in front
of the Immigration Refugee Board on May 26.
My pregnant wife, child and sister-in-law are
still in Thailand where we fled due to threat on
our lives,” he related.
According to him, they decided to leave
the Philippines after “finding a death threat
note” against his young daughter, Yurie Keiko
Menorca.
“Please help us,” Menorca pleaded. “We
are appealing to your government because our
own government has failed us. The politicians
are more interested in the solid bloc vote INC
has been known to deliver than protecting the
rights of its own citizens. INC is being wooed
by Presidential candidates and aspirants at
other levels of government.”
“I am just one man standing for the
truth and what is right against a very, very
powerful institution.” Menorca also said. “I
am no match for them. This is why we are
begging your good government to grant us
refuge. We are in dire need of protection
from a government such as yours, whose law
enforcement is faithful to its duty to protect
and serve its citizens. “I sincerely believe that
I am right in the choice I have made to seek
the help from the government of Canada.
I implore the Canada Immigration to allow
them to come here as soon as possible. My
hearing on May 26th might be too late for
them. Please grant my family, including my
unborn child, my sister-in-law, brother, his wife
and our household help refuge and protection
in your country.”
PNT has attempted to contact the INC
leaders in Canada for a statement but they
have yet to reply.