Nicolas Perez died on May 19, 1975. Eli was conducting Bible studies in Angeles City, Pampanga when he was informed of it. Perez, however, had not laid his hands on to anyone to replace him, and this stirred confusion among the members. Eli remembered the words of the old preacher then that if Perez appointed no one to replace him, the members better remain in the teachings that have been taught to them.

Little did Eli knew, there were those desiring to lead the church after the late Nicolas Perez: a group of women. They were the ones managing the financial contributions in the church.

A woman named Levita Gugulan, former Secretary General of the church, was elected to be the temporary Presiding General Secretary after Perez’s death. This was in conformity with the rule of the Securities and Exchange Commission, “that in the absence of the Presiding Officer of an organization, while there is none yet to succeed in the position, the General Secretary should temporarily act in lieu thereof.” After a time of holding onto the position, Gugulan decided not to leave anymore.

Because of this, a group of elders feared that the church would be mishandled by the youth, and more so by women. The elders opposed the decision and wanted themselves to minister over the church. These elders were mostly old church workers, including Eladio de Jesus, Philip Razon, Nazario Regalado, Mariano Mallari, Reymundo Avellanosa, Eddie Ray Cruz, Dominador Nunez, Francisco Galang, and Antonino Santiago de Castro, or “Ka Teno,” who was the first worker in the church. Severina Jose, the second wife of Perez, was also in this group.

Frightened that the church might be divided, Eli talked to Levita Gugulan and Lydia Clemente, saying that in order for the church not to split, he would meet with the elders and speak to them. Eli was then granted permission by the latter. A memorandum was made and was shown to him stating that on January 12, 1976, he is authorized to meet with the elders in an assembly, to negotiate with them for the sake of restoring peace in the church.

While Eli was negotiating for reconciliation with the group of the elders and the consequent group of the youth, the women who desired to lead the church told the youth that Eli was conniving with the elders. This aroused anger and moral upset.

Eli was rendered helpless; he could not do anything to mend the distressing situation. Some of the elders already decided to stop, including his parents. Upon learning that his parents were no longer attending Church gatherings, Eli, in tears, asked his parents why they turned cold. His father reprimanded him and told him that women are not allowed to minister the Church; his father remembered this being preached by Perez in Pasay in one of their gatherings. This confrontation led Eli to investigate and approach the elders, and he was able to gather enough testimonies - that the late Presiding Minister really taught that women in the Bible are not supposed to lead the Church of God.