We are sending you this letter, for and in behalf of our clients, Bro. Eliseo F. Soriano and Bro. Daniel S. Razon, to clarify the misinformation and confusion that certainly were caused by the publication of the news item “Appeals court junks Iglesia libel case vs Inquirer” (News, 8/22/13) and to correct the misconception and damage it has done to the person and image of our clients. The two were erroneously referred to as “former Iglesia ni Cristo officials” when in truth and in fact, they never have had any connection, in whatever capacity, with the Iglesla ni Cristo (INC). Worse, our clients were also wrongly mentioned in the news article to be among those who paid for an advertisement that was published in the May 4, 2008 issue of the Inquirer, together with six former INC members, namely: Marciano Manuyag, Nedie Espanol, Larry Erfilo, Ariel Sangle, Lydiya Manuyag and Jarell de Jesus.
The six former INC members mentioned above belong to an exclusive group of former INC members who call themselves, in a television program, the “D’ X-MAN.” Assuming, without admitting, that these people paid for the advertisement, they could have done it solely on their own as an exclusive group, not necessarily including our two clients. Our clients are in fact the presiding minister and vice presiding minister, respectively, of the MCGI (also known as ADD) which is a religious organization basically Biblical in its teachings.
Neither does it conclusively nor automatically follow, therefore, that as preachers of the congregation, Brother Soriano and Brother Razon are part of that group whose members call themselves D’ X-MAN, especially since the group was exclusively formed for a class of their own, meaning “for former INC members only, and therefore: for none others.”
—FREDELINO O. TUDIO, for the firm Tudio Roque Forteza Inocencio & Associates, 907 Edsa, Quezon City 1104