Oft-abused democratic principle

THE SEPARATION of church and state principle is often used by abusers to hide their dastardly acts. During martial law, Ferdinand Marcos would usually cite this principle whenever Catholic priests or Protestant pastors castigated his regime for human rights violations.

Lately, leaders of the Iglesia ni Cristo used this principle to pressure then Justice Secretary Leila de Lima not to proceed with the serious illegal detention case. Do the leaders of the INC believe that they can do an illegal act against their members and get away with it? Do they think they are not accountable before the laws of the land?

—RAFFY REY HIPOLITO, [email protected]