(Dumaguete City - August 7, 2013)The Bishop and the Clergy of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente -Diocese of Negros Oriental and Siquijor took over the lot and ruins of the church property last August 6 at Guihulngan City.
Rt. Rev. David M. Ga ,Diocesan Bishop, led the clergy in taking over this property once occupied by the faction, Philippine Independent Catholic Church (PICC), Inc. led by Armando dela Cruz, "said to be Supreme Bishop" of this faction group.
A final court order stated that the property shall be turned-over in immediacy to its legitimate owner, Iglesia Filipina Independiente and the sheriff order was served yesterday by local judiciary officials.
It can be recalled that in May 2006, Alfredo Lugatiman and Hubert dela Cerna, former IFI priests separated from the mainstream church and affiliated with the PICC.
Earlier this year, the case of IFI's claim with the name PICC, as part of the hundred names of the original Filipino Church, has been given a final decision from the Court of Appeals. The final decision granted IFI the sole ownership regarding the name, PICC.
Thus, this made the Securities and Exchange Commission to issue an order to nullify all marriages solemnized by the the ministers from the said faction group and removed them from the roster of legitimate ministers given authority by the government to administer weddings.
As of press time, Lugatiman's group has transferred to another site bringing their makeshift church.
