Catholic Priest and Evangelical Writer Report Death Threats from Alleged Iglesia ni Cristo Members After Criticism

Filipino Catholic priest Father Robert Reyes, 71, and Evangelical writer Melba Maggay, 75, have publicly disclosed death threats against them by alleged members of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), an independent Christian church founded in the Philippines. Reyes, an activist priest popularly known as “The Running Priest,” and Maggay, an award-winning social anthropologist, spoke about the threats at a press conference at the headquarters of the Diocese of Cubao on Tuesday.

The threats followed remarks the two made about the INC at an earlier press conference on June 10. In that event, Maggay said it was time for Catholics and Evangelicals to “stand up to” the INC, which she called a “cult.” She said the church had been “skewing the elections” because “for the longest time, politicians have been making a beeline for this church,” citing its practice of bloc voting. Reyes echoed her views, saying a “cult is not for the moral choice” and “is a problem” for the country.

The INC, also known as the Church of Christ, is a 112-year-old denomination. It counts about 2.8 million members in a country of 86 million Catholics, yet the source reports that it rivals the Catholic Church in political influence. The INC is known for voting as a bloc in every election, and Filipino politicians, from local officials to presidents, have traditionally sought its endorsement. Political analysts have noted that, in exchange for this support, politicians have extended favors to the church, such as appointing church members to key government positions.

According to the source, the comments angered INC members, who criticized Reyes and Maggay on various social media platforms, and some of them sent death threats. At Tuesday’s press conference, Maggay said she had received information that a threat to her life was planned for a large event, and that it “will be framed as God’s punishment because His church was criticized.”

Maggay said the pair had not reported the threats to the police because she feared “there might be police officers who want to have me killed.” The source notes that civil society groups have often warned that the INC has members and supporters within the police. Maggay said an Evangelical bishop had promised to “connect” them to police through “informal networks” if the matter escalated.

INC spokesperson Brother Edwil Zabala has not responded to a request for comment from Crux on the death threats attributed to church members. The source does not report any statement from the church about the threats themselves.

Maggay described the threats as an attack on free speech, and said their group “will not be afraid.” Speaking out for those who cannot speak for themselves is the stand she describes, and it is a duty the threats have not changed (Proverbs 31:8-9). “This is a sign of our free speech dying, and our democracy dying as well — that you can no longer speak out because you might get shot. Just like that,” Maggay said.

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