A Cult in Camouflage? Old Evidence Resurfaces to Haunt MCGI
- Geronimo Liwanag
- Jun 4
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 23
June 4, 2025 | Special Report
Apalit, Philippines — A growing archive of testimony, photographs, and long-suppressed documents has once again placed the leadership of the Members Church of God International (MCGI) under public scrutiny. What began as an anonymous Reddit exposé by whistleblower u/HiEiH_HiEiH has evolved into a wider investigation, reawakening questions about armed militias, land seizures, illegal operations, and high-level connections to rebel groups.
Central to the renewed controversy is a long-buried document originally published in the Manila Bulletin on February 13, 2005 under the headline “An Open Letter for the Sake of Truth and Justice.” The letter accuses former MCGI leader Eliseo Soriano and his successors of widespread abuse of spiritual authority and allegedly weaponizing the church’s structure to suppress dissent, coerce followers, and build a quasi-military infrastructure behind a religious front.
While once dismissed as religious infighting with MCGI's rival group INC, these claims have resurfaced with new visual evidence and corroboration from former insiders.
The Reddit exposé contains photographic evidence allegedly showing an armory of high-powered firearms, reportedly under the control of current MCGI figurehead Daniel Razon. The images depict rows of rifles and tactical gear, said to be concealed and later relocated to avoid detection. Testimony claims that procurement was overseen by a church insider named “Dnav,” (a known MCGI Minister Danny Navales' alias), with oversight from upper management.
Adding to the allegations, eyewitness accounts identify two training locations for armed personnel—first at a site known as “Alpha,” and later transferred to the Kuya Daniel Razon Adventure Camp (KDRAC). Both sites are described as secluded and tightly guarded. Training sessions were said to involve paramilitary drills, far beyond the needs of basic security.
In one of the most explosive claims, a photograph purportedly shows an MCGI worker in the company of a CPP-NPA-linked rebel commander in Bicol. The implications are politically sensitive and legally precarious. If substantiated, they may fall under the scope of the Philippines’ Anti-Terrorism Act and Comprehensive Firearms Regulation Law.
Allegations Previously Raised in 2005
Many of these themes echo a 2005 exposé published in the Manila Bulletin, where former MCGI insiders accused Soriano of:
Direct links to the NPA, MNLF, MILF, and use of ex-military and intelligence agents (e.g., Nelson Manalang) for internal “special operations”
Conversion of agricultural land to real estate assets such as convention centers and training camps without proper land reclassification
Use of underage members as laborers for construction projects under alleged exploitative conditions
Weaponization of church media and IT departments for surveillance, cyber-attacks, and sabotage of rival religious organizations
Illegal possession of firearms within church-owned compounds and training zones
Use of church vehicles and resources during the 2004 national election
Land grabbing, harassment of dissenters, and operations resembling organized criminal activity
The 2005 document, written partly in Tagalog, detailed 36 specific violations, including child abuse cover-ups, intellectual property theft, forced voter coercion, and manipulation of congregants through spiritual threats. It also noted the church’s alleged cooperation with local officials and its creation of an “intelligence arm” using dismissed or expelled workers.
The Discreet Silence from Apalit
Despite the resurgence of these accusations, MCGI leadership has remained silent. Repeated requests for comment have been sent to their headquarters in Apalit, Pampanga, but no response has been issued. Daniel Razon has not addressed the Reddit leaks, the photographic evidence, or the historical allegations that have once again gone viral.
Within the church’s ranks, strict loyalty and obedience are expected. Former members say internal dissent is immediately met with excommunication, character assassination, or even covert harassment. The church has previously dismissed similar reports as “propaganda” or “fake news,” but the growing body of testimony and media documentation now demands a more serious response.
A Pattern of Suppression
The 2005 letter warned that critics would be silenced. It named individuals believed to be under surveillance or targets of internal operations. The recent Reddit post aligns with that trajectory, alleging that one early whistleblower who attempted to expose the armory and rebel connection is now deceased. His files, however, survived—and are now circulating again.
What began as an “open letter” that church insiders tried to burn may now become a case study in how authoritarian religious systems co-opt state structures, mimic military organizations, and outlive exposure by suppressing witnesses and rewriting history.
A Crossroads for Law and Faith
Legal analysts say the documentation could prompt official inquiries, particularly if arms caches, land records, or surveillance systems can be linked to MCGI-controlled sites. Whether the government will act remains uncertain.
For now, the resurfaced material reminds us that the architecture of power does not collapse overnight. But cracks—once visible—are difficult to plaster over again.
For the full original letter and documentation, visit:
Posted by u/HiEiH_HiEiH
