Eli Soriano - Misplaced Pages

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Eliseo "Eli" Soriano
File:Eli soriano philweb-nov-2005.jpgSoriano at the 8th Philippine web awards
Born	(1947-04-04) April 4, 1947 (age 77) Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Occupation(s)	Televangelist; Businessman
Parent	Triunfo Soriano Catalina Fernando
Website	http://www.elisoriano.com/

Eliseo Fernando Soriano (born April 4, 1947), a controversial Filipino evangelist, is 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 programs Ang Dating Daan (The Old Path), Ask Soriano, Bible Guide and Truth in Focus. Soriano is known for criticizing various other religious groups for doctrines and practices he considers to be against biblical truths. Soriano and his followers claim 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 all kinds of Bible questions similar to the self-styled "Bible Answer Man", Hank Hanegraff.

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 was shy as a child and started school at the age of eight.

Soriano then dropped out of high school three months before graduation to devote his life to study the bible. On April 7, 1964, three days after his 17th birthday, 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 Nicholas Perez where his parents are 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 Nicholas Perez however in 1975, a woman by the name of Levita Gugulan was appointed as presiding minister 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. When Soriano voluntarily left the group, he was excommunicated by the group of 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).

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 its church's name not similar to Gugulan's.Soriano changed his church 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 registered and used the name Members Church of God International.

Soriano started his first radio broadcast in 1980 and TV program Ang Dating Daan in 1983.

Charities

For almost two decades Soriano has maintained the ADD Foundation key charities for the widowed, disabled, neglected and fatherless. He established a charitable organization named "Bro. Eli and Bro. Daniel Foundation" to help the poor people in his country. .

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. Soriano was running as an independent candidate.

Rape case

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. In his counter affidavit, Soriano described Veridiano's accusations as "fabricated, baseless and malicious" and said that Veridiano was simply retaliating for being expelled from Members Church of God International.

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). 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. However, Philippine Daily Inquirer reported that on August 29, 2008, 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.

Criticisms

Soriano's manner of preaching is a target of criticism. He swears and is highly critical of his religious opponents who he calls "false prophets" in his programs.

In 2005, MTRCB banned Soriano's programs because of statements made by Soriano against the Iglesia ni Cristo, the Arroyo government, and the MTRCB. He was prohibited from uttering libelous 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. Soriano protested the ban claiming the MTRCB had violated his freedom of religion and speech. The Commission on Human Rights ruled that MTRCB overstepped its authority by banning Soriano's TV programs in 2005.

As a result of Soriano's frequent attacks on the Iglesia ni Cristo, INC launched a TV program, Ang Tamang Daan, to counter Soriano's criticism of INC's teachings and practices and to expose what they say are Soriano's false teachings and contradictions on the show. To insult and malign Soriano, The INC hosts would often refer to him as manloloko (deceiver), dayukdok (ravenous), mandarambong (plunderer), mangongotong (extortioner), manghohostage (hostage taker) and the like. This has sparked a feud between Soriano and the Iglesia ni Cristo.