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Eli Soriano

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Eliseo F. Soriano
File:Eli Soriano.jpg
BornApril 4, 1947
Pasay City, Philippines
Other namesBrother Eli, Ingkong
EducationElementary
ChurchMembers Church of God International
Ordained1969
WritingsLeaving Behind the Fundamental Doctrines of Christ (1999)
Offices held
Minister
TitlePresiding Minister

Eliseo Fernando Soriano (born April 4, 1947), an international fugitive and a controversial Filipino televangelist, is the presiding minister of the Philippines-based Members Church of God International. He is known as Bro. Eli in the congregation he leads, and through his radio and television program Ang Dating Daan (The Old Path).

Soriano is known for criticizing various other religious groups for doctrines and practices he considers to be against his personal understanding of the Bible. Soriano and his followers believe him to be the Pantas (Wise man) according to Daniel 12:9-10 who would understand the Bible in the last days. This is exhibited in his program "Itanong mo kay Soriano (Ask Soriano)" where he claims to be able to answer any question using the Bible.

Biography

Soriano was born to Triunfo Soriano and Catalina Fernando in Pasay City and is the seventh of eight children. He grew up in Pampanga. He started school at the age of eight.[1]

Soriano dropped out of high school three months before graduation allegedly to pursue studying the Bible. On April 7, 1964, three days after his 17th birthday, the young Eliseo was baptised in Seneguelasan, Bacoor, Cavite, and became an official member of the Iglesia ng Dios kay Kristo Hesus, Haligi at Suhay ng Katotohanan (Church of God in Christ Jesus, Pillar and Support of the Truth in English) founded by excommunicated Iglesia ni Cristo minister Nicolas Perez where his parents were also members.

In 1969, Nicolas Perez, who was then the church’s presiding minister, bestowed upon Soriano the title minister making him the only minister in the Iglesia ng Dios kay Kristo Hesus, Haligi at Suhay ng Katotohanan at that time. Rumor then was circulating that Soriano would become the successor of Perez. After the death of Nicolas Perez however in 1975, Levita Gugulan was appointed as temporary Presiding General Secretary[2] of the group. Soriano initially accepted the appointment of Gugulan but subsequently denounced her leadership stating that women should not be leaders of the church according to the Bible.[3] In 1976, Soriano and his allies were excommunicated by Gugulan. In 1977, Soriano registered a new group, called Iglesia ng Dios kay Kristo Hesus, Haligi at Saligan ng Katotohanan(Church of God in Christ Jesus, Pillar and Ground of Truth in English), which was later changed to Mga Kaanib sa Iglesia ng Dios kay Kristo Hesus, Haligi at Saligan ng Katotohanan sa Bansang Pilipinas, Inc. (Members Church of God in Christ Jesus, Pillar and Ground of Truth, Philippines, Inc. in English).[4]

Because of the similarity between the name used by Gugulan’s group and Soriano's group, the former filed a suit, which was resolved by the Supreme Court of the Philippines in 2001 in favor of Gugulan's group and Soriano's group was ordered to change their church's name.[5] Soriano's group complied and changed their church's name to Bayan ng Katotohanan (City of Truth Inc. in English) and later to Iglesia Ni YHWH at ni YHWSA HMSYH Inc. (Church of YHWH and YHWSA HMSYH Inc. in English). In 2004 Soriano's group changed their church's name for the fourth time to Members Church of God International.

Soriano started the Ang Dating Daan radio program in 1980, which became a television program in 1983.

Controversies

In 2005, MTRCB banned Soriano's programs because of statements made by Soriano against the Iglesia ni Cristo, and the MTRCB. He was prohibited from uttering libellous and defamatory statements against INC. Soriano had used terms like iglesiang pumapatay ng kapwa tao (church who murders) and iglesia ni Manalo (church of Manalo) to malign the INC in his programs.[6]

Senate disqualification

Soriano was declared a nuisance candidate and disqualified by the En Banc Comelec (Commission On Elections) on January 17, 2004 when he stood for a position of senator.[7] Soriano was running as an independent candidate.[8]

Conflicts with other religions

In August 2003, the Iglesia ni Cristo sued Soriano for libel after Soriano accused them of publishing explicit comic books depicting Soriano having homosexual sex. In 2007, Soriano filed multiple petitions to stop the lawsuit to no avail.[9]

In August 2004, the Department of Justice of the Philippines recommended the filing of libel cases against Eliseo Soriano and 15 of this associates for allegedly defaming the Iglesia ni Cristo and its ministers. [10]

In April 2005, Muslim leaders from Metro Manila filed a one billion peso libel suit against Eliseo Soriano before the Manila Prosecutor's Office for allegedly, in a video, uttering unsavory remarks and criticism against Islam and Muslims.[11]

Rape case

In the November 10, 2005 issue of Philippine Daily Inquirer internet edition, it was reported Eliseo Soriano was put on the Bureau of Immigration watchlist. The order was made by Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales on the request of the Pampanga Prosecutor's Office.[12]

In May 2006, Soriano was indicted on rape charges at the regional trial court of Macabebe, Pampanga, following a complaint filed by former MCGI assistant secretary general Daniel Veridiano that he was sexually assaulted in Apalit, Pampanga on two occasions. According to a report by the Philippine Daily Inquirer report in June 2008, Soriano allegedly abused his influence by directing Veridiano "to come into his room, massage him and have anal intercourse", an act that was against the consent of Veridiano.[13]

Macabebe Regional Trial Court Judge Manuel Siyangco issued the warrant of arrest. Soriano was allowed to post a P400,000 bail bond (P200,000 for each count).[14] The charge was dismissed but was later refiled in a higher court by the country’s Department of Justice Secretary, Raul Gonzales.

In November 2006, an arrest warrant was issued against Soriano by Judge Lucina Dayaon, Macabebe. After more than a year and a half of living as a fugitive, news came out that Soriano finally emerged from hiding and posted a P240,000 bail at a police Station in Pandacan, Manila on June 21, 2008. [13]

On August 29, 2008, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported that Soriano and two others were sued for violation of Art. 171, Revised Penal Code of the Philippines (falsification of public documents) at the Manila City Prosecutor's Office. It was discovered that the arresting officer, PO3 June Gumaru, and Soriano's secretary, Belen Talentado, conspired in faking the certificate of detention to permit his release by posting bail for his rape case. PO3 Gumaru admitted in a sworn affidavit that he had never seen the church group leader, that Soriano did not really surrender to him, and that he is, in fact, still a fugitive.[15]

By August 2008, a "Red Notice"[16] was issued against him by the International Police Commission (Interpol) [sic]. The "Red Notice" is not an international arrest warrant, rather these notices allow the arrest warrant issued by the requesting country to be circulated worldwide with the request that the wanted person be arrested with a view to extradition. Eliseo "Eli" Soriano is in hiding and is now an international fugitive. The Interpol list countries such as Brazil, Singapore, Thailand and the U.S. as likely to be visited by Soriano.[17][18]

Tax evasion

In February 2008, six buildings inside the ADD compound owned by Soriano were closed by local officials for failure to comply with the law. Prior to that, four buildings were closed due to the same reason. Sun Star Pampanga reports the reason behind the closures as "Aside from the buildings that were constructed without any permit, Ang Dating Daan (ADD) also failed to pay its real property taxes for the years 2006 until 2007".[19]

References

  1. ^ "About Us". Ang Dating Daan. 1964-04-07. Retrieved 2010-06-01.
  2. ^ [1][dead link]
  3. ^ Does a Woman have the Right to Preach in the Church of God?
  4. ^ Justyn. "Iglesia Ni YHWH at ni YHWSA HMSYH ('Ang Dating Daan')". thebereans.ne. Retrieved 2009-01-11.
  5. ^ G.R. No. 137592
  6. ^ INC against free press?
  7. ^ Comelec Res. 6558
  8. ^ Navarro, Rico (2004-02-14). "Comelec to publish list of qualified candidates". The Manila Bulleting Online - Main News. Manila Bulletin. Retrieved 2008-12-23. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ "The Manila Times Internet Edition | METRO > CA junks evangelist's plea to stop libel case". Web.archive.org. Retrieved 2010-06-01.
  10. ^ Tubeza, Philip C DOJ backs libel raps vs Bro. Eli Philippine Daily Inquirer(pub Aug 15, 2004, byline)
  11. ^ Jannaral, Julmunir I (April 4, 2005) P1bn libel charges against a religious leader [Gulf Times http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=32176&version=1&template_id=45&parent_id=25]
  12. ^ Torres, Tetch (November 10, 2005). [inquirer.net "Gonzalez orders: Put evangelist Soriano on watchlist"]. Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 2009-03-09. {{cite news}}: Check |url= value (help)
  13. ^ a b Lopez, Allison (2008-06-21). "Dating Daan's Ely Soriano posts bail". Philippine Daily Inquirer. The INQUIRER Company. Retrieved 2008-08-17.
  14. ^ manilastandardtoday.com, ‘Dating Daan’ leader charged with sodomy
  15. ^ newsinfo.inquirer.net, Ely Soriano charged with falsification of public document
  16. ^ Anon. "Wanted SORIANO Eliseo". Interpol. Archived from the original on 2008-06-26. Retrieved 2009-02-23.
  17. ^ Dalizon, Alfred P (August 8, 2008). "Int'l arrest warrant out for Eli Soriano". World News. Journal Online. Retrieved 2009-02-02.
  18. ^ Eliseo Soriano's wanted notice at the official website of the Interpol Retrieved on 2009-03-01.
  19. ^ Garcia, Raymond C (February 26, 2008). "Ang Dating Daan failed to pay taxes". Sun Star Pampanga. Sun.Star Publishing Inc. Retrieved 2010-01-18.
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