Predator Next Door: How NY’s Bail Laws Betray a 12-Year-Old

By Louis ‘Barok‘ C. Biraogo — April 8, 2025

GLENNON Salvador Payabyab, a 43-year-old Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) minister, allegedly texted a 12-year-old girl a Pornhub link and tried to lure her to a Staten Island parking lot. The NYPD swooped in, only to see him stroll free in under 24 hours—back to his block, 100 steps from a terrified mother’s couch. New York’s bail reform touts fairness, but this case screams failure: a child’s safety traded for a predator’s convenience. Let’s rip this apart—legally, sociologically, and with a torch aimed at the church hiding in the shadows.

Legal Breakdown: A Slap When a Slam Was Due?

Charges: Misdemeanor or Missed Felony?

New York Penal Law § 260.10 tags “endangering the welfare of a child” as a Class A misdemeanor—max one year, often less—for “knowingly” risking a kid’s well-being. Payabyab’s 20+ texts, porn links, and meet-up plot check the box. He reportedly confessed, “Yes, I sent those” and “Yes, I know her age.” Open and shut? Hardly. This smells like grooming—felony territory like “attempted criminal sexual act” (§ 130.40) or “luring a child” (§ 120.70), with years in lockup. Why the lightweight charge? Weak evidence or prosecutorial timidity? Either way, it’s a gut punch to justice.

Bail Reform: Free to Stalk Again?

New York’s 2019 bail overhaul ditched cash for most misdemeanors, pushing “least restrictive” release under CPL § 510.30. Payabyab’s 24-hour exit fits the script—an order of protection his only leash. But Liza Vetland’s cry—“he’s 100 steps away”—lays bare the flaw. A shoplifter gets the same deal; a child predator shouldn’t. Pre-reform, judges could’ve held him on risk alone. Stack v. Boyle (1951) bans “excessive” bail, but what’s excessive when a kid’s the collateral? DeShaney v. Winnebago (1989) says the state’s not her babysitter—leaving her exposed.

Prosecutors Asleep: Where’s the Fight?

Prosecutors had tools—GPS, broader stay-aways—under CPL § 510.10. They didn’t use them, or the judge didn’t care. ABA Rule 3.8 demands victim safety weigh in, yet Payabyab’s “respected member” badge seems to trump a girl’s fear. Silence from the DA’s office is complicity. Where’s the spine?

Social Fallout: Rage, Fear, and a System on Trial

A Mother’s Nightmare Goes Viral

Liza Vetland’s Facebook SOS—“My daughter isn’t safe in her own home”—is a primal scream. Her kid’s afraid to grab the mail; Payabyab’s proximity is a daily dagger. Research shows nearness doubles victim trauma in these cases. An order of protection? It’s a paper towel in a storm. The law’s failing her, and she’s not alone.

Reddit’s Lynch Mob: Justice or Chaos?

On r/exIglesiaNiCristo, users like Rauffenburg blast “exploitative” clergy, while others howl, “Put him away or in the ground!” Social media’s a megaphone for fury—sparking vigilance but flirting with vigilantism. Due process plods; the mob sprints. Payabyab’s lawyer whines about “online rhetoric,” but when a kid’s at stake, who’s surprised?

NYPD’s NGO Stunt: Bust or Bust?

The NYPD’s Protect Our Children collab nabbed Payabyab—bravo. Founder Peter DiMiceli crows about teamwork, but the quick release turns it sour. It’s a trust tease: cops look tough, then bail reform yanks the rug. Dr. Georgio Dano’s “Everybody gets released” barb cuts deep—Staten Island’s faith in the system’s bleeding out.

Holy Hypocrisy: INC’s Deafening Silence

Church of Crickets: Where’s INC?

Iglesia Ni Cristo’s lips are sealed on Payabyab. No outrage, no defense—nothing. It’s a familiar dodge: past scandals saw ex-members bullied into silence, per critics. With 3 million followers, INC owes answers. Did his minister gig open doors to kids, or is this a lone wolf? Stonewalling won’t cut it.

No Rules, No Safety: INC’s Blind Spot

INC’s top-down control—straight from Manila—looks ripe for abuse. Reddit whispers of kid-chasing ministers; hard proof’s thin, but the smoke’s thick. The church flaunts “values,” but where’s the clergy vetting? The Catholic Church got dragged into reforms—INC’s dodging the memo. Kids pay the price.

Cult Cover-Up: Power Over Protection?

Bloc voting, excommunication threats—INC’s cult label sticks for a reason. Does that choke whistleblowers? A minister texting a minor isn’t a glitch; it’s a warning. If Manalo’s crew can’t handle their ranks, as Redditors claim, the structure’s rotten. Transparency’s not optional.

Fix It Now: Solutions With Teeth

Legal Overhaul: Lock Down Child Risks

New York’s bail reform needs a gut check—carve out child-endangerment cases for detention discretion. Pre-2019 stats show 30% more holds in similar busts; bring that back. Risk assessments, not résumés, should rule. Call it the “Vetland Rule”—no more free passes near kids.

Shield the Streets: Tech Over Trust

Slap GPS trackers on these suspects. Stretch stay-away zones to 1,000 feet—100 steps is a sick joke. Give Vetland real-time breach alerts. She’s begging, “What can I do?”—give her tools, not tears.

Church Cleanup: Force INC’s Hand

INC must cough up a statement and a policy audit—yesterday. States should mandate external reviews for kid-heavy churches: annual checks, no exceptions. If they won’t purge their own ranks, drag them into daylight.

Wake-Up Call: Who’s Got the Kids’ Backs?

Payabyab’s case is a blazing indictment: bail reform’s a revolving door, the community’s a powder keg, and INC’s playing mute. The NYPD can strut its stings, but when the bad guy’s home by dinner, it’s a farce. A 12-year-old scans her block for threats while her mom’s left helpless. If the law won’t step up—and the church won’t either—who’s left? New York, fix this. Now.