NEWS: Falsification case filed by Lottie Hemedez vs INC dismissed

Report by Anthony Peña

May 24, 2016

File photo of a portion of the Iglesia Ni Cristo property at no. 36 Tandang Sora Avenue in Quezon City (Eagle News Service)

(Eagle News) – The Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office has dismissed the complaint for falsification of public document filed by Lottie Hemedez against Iglesia ni Cristo Executive Minister Brother Eduardo V. Manalo for “insufficiency of evidence.”

Hemedez is contesting the INC’s claim over the 36 Tandang Sora property where she and Felix Nathaniel “Angel” Manalo still reside even though they have already been expelled from the Church for almost a year now.

But as it turned out, based on the records she herself had submitted to the prosecutor’s office, the certified copy of title, TCT No. N-143051, the lot being described by the title was not even the lot at no. 36 Tandang Sora Avenue, but a lot located in Kalaw Hills Subdivision along Commonwealth, Quezon City.

Her claim thus had “no basis at all,” the resolution noted.

“The lot of the questioned deed of sale is not the same lot being claimed by the complainant as her property.  The property described in the deed of sale is known as Lot 8-D-1, located in Kalaw Hills, Subd., Commonwealth Ave., Quezon City, and covered by TCT No. N-143051,” Senior Assistant City Prosecutor Solivan L. Usman said in his eight-page resolution.

Complainant Hemedez is claiming as her “own home” a certain Lot 30, located at no. 36 Tandang Sora Avenue, but this is covered by transfer certificate title or TCT No. N-299127, the resolution pointed out.

“Complainant’s claim that the Register of Deeds of Quezon City caused the cancellation of her title, TCT No. N-14305, and issued a new one, TCT No. 143051, in favor of the INC has no basis at all,” Usman said in the resolution.

Even the lot title being claimed by Hemedez, TCT No-14305, pertains to a condominium unit in the name of 24K Property Ventures, Inc.

It added that the title “TCT No N-143051 was not in INC’s name, but in the name of spouses Eduard R. Hemedez and Lolita M. Hemedez as trustees of the Church.”

The INC’s present title is TCT No. 004-2015005510.

The resolution also pointed out that all the other elements to prove the falsification of public document were not present.

“As regards the first element, the complaint is bereft of allegation of facts showing the intent to imitate or an attempt to imitate on the part of the respondent. As regards to the second element, the complainant fails to submit samples of her genuine signatures and that of her husband to show their resemblance with the alleged forged signatures. Moreover, not a single witness was presented by her that would at least corroborate her claim of forgery,” the eight-page resolution explained.

Hemedez had accused the INC of falsifying a deed of sale that allegedly transferred the lot to the Church. Hemedez’ camp claimed that the notarized Deed of Absolute Sale dated 21 April 2015, was falsified because it was supposedly signed by Hemedez and her husband, who had died in April 2013.

Hemedez named the INC Executive Minister as the respondent in the case she filed.

Meanwhile, Bro. Edwil Zabala said that this is another vindication against the detractors of the Iglesia ni Cristo. “For as long as we limit ourselves to facts supported by evidence, the Iglesia ni Cristo will continue to be vindicated against our detractors. Zabala said in a text message to Eagle News.

Source: Eagle News Service