10/02/2025
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Lope Roger Velez: A Pentecostal Apologist and Debating Legend
Disclaimer:
This account of debates serves only to proclaim truth, not to endorse debate as evangelism or glorify individuals or denominations. If the truth prevailed all the glory and praises unto our Lord Jesus Christ, We believe souls are won through Bible study and Spirit-led evangelism. While defending our faith is important, our focus is on winning souls, not arguments.
Lope Roger Velez, a licensed pastor with the United Pentecostal Church Philippines, has a long and distinguished career in religious ministry.
Serving as the National Director of the Radio Commission for many years, and currently a Presbyter, Velez remains an active minister even at his advanced age. However, beyond his pastoral duties, Velez is renowned as one of the Philippines' most formidable religious debaters.
A former member of the Iglesia ni Cristo who later converted under the ministry of Pastor W***y Majaducon, Velez became a powerful voice for Oneness Pentecostalism in the country. He has engaged in and won numerous debates against representatives from various denominations, including Baptists, Iglesia ni Cristo ministers, and others.
One of the most talked-about moments in his debating career is his encounter with Eli Soriano. Their debate, which aired on Soriano's own television program, is a subject of much discussion and controversy.
While a video of the debate was reportedly available on YouTube some 15 years ago, it has since been removed.
According to various accounts, the debate's moderator declared Eli Soriano to be the loser. Sources claim that this outcome was unacceptable to members of Soriano's organization, Ang Dating Daan, leading to the video's removal. While no video currently exists to substantiate these claims, anecdotal evidence from former MCGI members suggests that Velez indeed emerged victorious.
One such account comes from a former security staff member of Eli Soriano, a staunch supporter who, after witnessing the debate, reportedly left Ang Dating Daan and joined the United Pentecostal Church Philippines. This individual, whose name remains undisclosed for their safety, has confirmed the widespread knowledge among Soriano's staff of Velez's victory.
The narrative surrounding the video's disappearance is complex.
Some allege that Ang Dating Daan removed it to prevent further defections from their ranks. Conversely, it's claimed that the Iglesia ni Cristo re-uploaded the video to highlight that Soriano was not invincible in debate. The video's current unavailability leaves the exact details of the debate and its outcome open to interpretation and reliant on personal accounts. Despite the lack of concrete evidence, the story of Lope Roger Velez's debate with Eli Soriano has become part of the lore of religious discussions in the Philippines, solidifying Velez's reputation as a powerful and influential debater.
Testimony Regarding a Debate Between Eli Soriano and Lope Roger Velez
Testimony of Ronel Mendiola
Background:
A query was posted online regarding the availability of a video recording of a debate between Eli Soriano and Lope Roger Velez, which reportedly took place in Novaliches in 2005. The individual inquiring expressed disbelief that Soriano could be defeated in a debate and sought the video as evidence of his purported loss.
The inquiry further claimed that Soriano's statement during the cross-examination by Velez, where he compared his deity to a vegetable, led to his emotional breakdown and public humiliation. The inquirer alleged that this event was broadcast live on UNTV and later replayed on the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) program "Ang Pagbubunyag."
Ronel Mendiola responded, stating that he was also searching for the video. He mentioned that INC ministers Edgar Villaso and Leopoldo Guevarra possessed a copy, as they had repeatedly aired it on "Ang Pagbubunyag." Mendiola claimed the video was previously uploaded to YouTube but was taken down following a complaint from Soriano.
Further Testimony from Ronel Mendiola:
Mendiola added that he personally witnessed the debate in Novaliches around 2005, during which Soriano was allegedly ridiculed and wept. He further claimed that Soriano, surrounded by his security detail, challenged Velez to a physical altercation. Mendiola stated that Villaso and Guevarra are INC ministers who host the Net25 program "Ang Pagbubunyag." He asserted that Soriano's defeat in the debate was evident, even acknowledged by members of Soriano's personal staff. Mendiola claimed to have conversed with Bert Miranda, Soriano's former head of security, who corroborated the account of the debate.
Mendiola reiterated the request for the video recording of the debate, emphasizing its potential value in countering what he termed as Soriano's falsehoods.
This one the excerpt of their debate since there is no actual footage was saved:
Further Testimony from Ronel Mendiola Regarding the Debate
Mendiola provided additional details about the debate, stating that the topic was engaging. He recounted Soriano's analogy comparing God and Christ to a married couple, or a halved coconut, emphasizing their oneness despite distinct identities. Soriano reportedly cited Christ's statement, "He who has seen me has seen the Father," as evidence of this analogy.
During the cross-examination, Pastor Velez posed a hypothetical scenario to Soriano: If a man were to leave his family, travel to a distant land, reside there for an extended period, and start a new family, could he, upon meeting his father again, claim that seeing him was equivalent to seeing his new wife?
Soriano was allegedly unable to provide a satisfactory response to this analogy. He then made a statement comparing his deity to a vegetable, describing it as a single entity with multiple components, including salt and MSG.
Pastor Velez seized upon this statement, highlighting it to the audience and quoting Isaiah, where God asks whom He should be compared to.
At this point, Soriano reportedly wept and challenged Velez to a physical altercation, while his own members mocked him.
The moderator then reminded Soriano of their earlier agreement to accept defeat, asking him what he wanted to happen since he had clearly lost the debate. Soriano reportedly responded by shouting that he could not accept the outcome.
Following the debate between Eli Soriano and Pastor Lope Roger Velez, which reportedly resulted in Soriano's defeat, Soriano requested a rematch. However, he declined to face Pastor Lope Roger Velez again. Instead, Pastor W***y Majaducon was chosen as his opponent.
This subsequent debate took place, but Soriano was unable to recover from his previous loss. Pastor W***y Majaducon, also a skilled debater, effectively challenged Soriano on the topics of baptism in Acts 2:38 and the Godhead in John 14:7-10. According to debate analysts, Soriano was clearly at a disadvantage. They noted that the venue was neutral, and Soriano's characteristic "squatter style" of debate, including shouting, was ineffective against the seasoned debater W***y Majaducon.
The full video of the debate between W***y Majaducon and Eli Soriano is available on YouTube.
Reminder:
The recounting of this testimony, including details of debates, is not intended as an endorsement of debate as a primary method of evangelism, nor is it meant to glorify any individual as a "winner." Our sole purpose is the proclamation of truth. We firmly believe that debate is not the most effective means of winning souls. Rather, we are called to win souls through loving engagement with individuals, primarily through Bible studies and evangelism. We recognize that without the Lord, His Word, and the transformative power of His Spirit touching the human heart, no amount of debate skill or rhetorical ability can truly win a soul. We are merely instruments in God's hands.
This account is not a suggestion that our brothers and sisters should actively engage in debating. Our focus should remain on evangelism. However, in proclaiming the truth, we acknowledge the importance of being able to defend it and answer questions about our faith, much like the pioneers and preachers of the past. Pastors Ompad, Lope Roger Velez, and W***y Majaducon serve as examples of individuals who loved the truth, proclaimed it, and defended it with their lives and unwavering love for God and lost souls. Their examples illustrate the importance of being prepared to articulate and defend one's faith, not for the sake of argument, but for the sake of truth and the salvation of souls.
