Broadcaster files for leave of absence following church controversy, attacks on café (UPDATED)

CMFR/Philippines – Citing “conflict of interest” due to the on-going controversy surrounding the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), ABS-CBN 2 broadcaster Anthony Taberna filed for a leave of absence and announced the decision on his Instagram account last Sunday, 30 August 2015.

Taberna, an active member of the INC Christian sect, is a nephew of former INC minister Isaias Samson Jr. whom the INC expelled following his allegations of abduction and corruption against the church’s leadership.

“Ako po bilang aktibong miyembro ng Iglesia ni Cristo ay nasa isang sitwasyon na hindi maaaring maging credible sa pagtalakay sa isyung may kinalaman dito” (I, being an active member of the INC, am in a situation in  which I cannot be credible in discussing issues surrounding it.), Taberna said in a social media post.

“Mayroon po akong paniniwalang pangrelihiyon at mayroon din naman akong tungkulin bilang mamamahayag, bagay na hindi po maaaring pagsamahin ngayon dahil sa tinatawag na conflict of interest.” (I have religious beliefs and I also have a responsibility as a journalist, things that cannot be combined now due to what we call conflict of interest.)

Taberna’s announcement came shortly after he and his wife’s appearance in the INC protest rally in the intersection of Epifanio De los Santos Avenue (EDSA) and Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong City.

Armed men fire at Taberna’s café

In what could be a related incident, on Friday, 28 August 2015, unidentified men fired several rounds at Taberna’s cafe located on Visayas Avenue in Quezon City  at around 2 a.m. Quezon City is part of the Philippines’ National Capital Region.

Closed circuit television footage showed two assailants, both wearing caps and jackets, spraying bullets at the cafe owned by the ABS-CBN 2 broadcaster. They escaped with the aid of two other unidentified men on motorcycles.

According to the Quezon City Police District (QCPD), one of the two men asked the security guard of the neighboring establishment if he was armed before firing at Taberna’s cafe.  No one was reportedly hurt in the incident; the guard on duty inside the café was able to take cover.

Authorities recovered 15 shells from a .45 caliber pistol at the scene.

In an interview with dzMM, Taberna said that a business-related motive for the incident is not likely as the café only started operating last 21 August 2015. He further stated that the QCPD is looking at the possibility that the attack is connected to his work as a broadcaster. A special task force has been formed by QCPD to investigate the incident.

INC spokesman Edwil Zbala has reportedly denied allegations that the church is behind the attack on Taberna’s coffee shop.

Taberna is one of the hosts of ABS-CBN 2’s Umagang Kay Ganda (Beautiful Morning), Tapatan ni Tunying (Encounter of Tunying)  and dzMM’s Dos Por Dos (2×2).