“Unfair!”

This is how members and sympathizers of religious group Ang Dating Daan reacted to a recent episode of late-night public affairs program, “Case Unclosed” aired on GMA-7.

The episode titled, “Brother Eli: Paninirang Puri?” tackled the harassment case filed by a certain Daniel Veridiano against Ang Dating Daan group leader Eliseo Soriano.

Veridiano, a former assistant secretary to the embattled spiritual leader, narrated in the episode how Soriano allegedly “raped” him in two instances between 2000 and 2001.

“It was in May of 2000 when he summoned me to his room. I was shocked at what followed. At that time I couldn’t resist his advances...at that time, I was really terrified of him…there is a teaching in Ang Dating Daan that one must do what Soriano tells him to do at all times. Obey him, otherwise you’ll be cursed,” Veridiano said.

Records show that Veridiano was excommunicated in late 2005 by Soriano himself upon the recommendation of an investigating panel. The excommunication was for various offenses that were said to be “unacceptable to the doctrines of their group.”

Veridiano joined the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) soon thereafter.

The two cases of rape filed against Soriano by Veridiano were already dismissed by the Regional Court of San Fernando, Pampanga, but was re-filed by Raul Gonzalez, who until this week was Secretary of Justice.

Arnold Clavio, who hosted that particular “Case Unclosed” episode, read a statement on how they exhausted all means to contact Soriano or Ang Dating Daan representatives prior to airing the story.

Clavio added that phone calls were made to Soriano's lawyers, but they were “either out or unavailable.”

Soriano’s followers in Ang Dating Daan—officially known as Members Church of God International (MCGI)—is calling for a “boycott” of GMA-7.

They are accusing the network and Clavio himself of conniving with the INC to smear Soriano's name.

The INC and Ang Dating Daan have been enmeshed in a bitter war of words, hurling denigration at each other through their respective television programs.

In a statement released to the media, GMA-7 “vehemently” denied these accusations, explaining that the station’s News and Public Affairs department "adheres to strict policies on news reporting and coverage of events. It will not allow any individual or entity to influence the outcome of its news stories."

It also stated that “Case Unclosed” is still open to airing Soriano's side of the story.