Raps filed by sis vs INC leader junked

The Quezon City prosecutor’s office has dismissed the complaint for falsification of public documents filed by Lottie Manalo-Hemedez against her brother and Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) executive minister Eduardo Manalo in connection with a disputed property in Tandang Sora.

In a resolution dated May 6, Senior Assistant City Prosecutor Solivan Usman recommended the dismissal for lack of evidence. It was approved by Division 4 chief Second Assistant City Prosecutor Rogelio Antero and Senior City Prosecutor Joel Atanacio for the acting chief prosecutor.

In her complaint, Hemedez questioned a Deed of Absolute Sale dated April 21, 2015, which canceled a land title under her name and her husband Edward Hemedez (Transfer Certificate of Title No. N-14305).

She said the signatures affirming the sale of the property to INC (with a new title, TCT N-143051) were forged since she did not sign it nor did her husband who died two years prior.

Hemedez filed the complaint after the INC claimed ownership of the Tandang Sora compound, as the church filed an injunction case to bar the expelled Manalo siblings from receiving visitors in the property.

The families of Hemedez and Angel Manalo have been holed up at No. 36 Tandang Sora Avenue, Quezon City, since July last year when the rift within the INC leadership became public.