Major roads closed as INC holds surprise rally at People Power Monument
The Metro Manila Development Authority has imposed closures in the Ortigas-White Plains area due to an "emergency" rally held by the Iglesia ni Cristo at the People Power Monument on June 30.
Bro. Edwil Zabala, INC spokeperson, said in a statement that the rally is in support of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta. On Monday, June 29, the Ombudsman announced his office will be filing plunder charges against the senator in connection with campaign donations he received during the 2025 elections.
According to MMDA general manager Nicolas Torre III, in an interview with ANC, as of 9 a.m. on Tuesday, the heavy traffic on EDSA brought about by the rally stretched from Guadalupe, Makati to Cubao, Quezon City.
He has asked motorists to find alternative ways to travel, avoiding EDSA, especially the Ortigas and White Plains areas.
MMDA has closed the following roads:
- EDSA Ortigas Service Road, northbound
- EDSA Ortigas Flyover, northbound
- EDSA Ortigas Flyover, southbound
- White Plains Ave., eastbound and westbound
As of 11:00 a.m., the PNP estimated the number of rallyists at 10,000. Police also reported tension at the People Power Monument at around the same time, with at least two rallyists arrested and three police officers injured.
No permit
As early as 3 a.m., according to the Quezon City Police, individuals had started gathering at the People Power Monument to attend the Iglesia ni Cristo emergency rally. By 6:30 a.m., reports pegged the number of rallyists at 7,000.
According to Torre, the rallyists used one of their buses to block the northbound bus lane between Ortigas and Camp Aguinaldo. Based on reports, as of 9 a.m., at least one lane on White Plains Ave. was being used as a parking lane for the rallyists' buses.
Both the MMDA and Quezon City Police have confirmed that the rally organizers could not present a proper rally permit.
"Wala pong coordination, wala pong permit ang rally na 'yan, at wala pong sinabi ang organizers na may gagawin silang pagkilos na ganyan," said Torre in his ANC interview.
In an interview with DZMM Tuesday morning, PBGen. Anthony Aberin, National Capital Region Police Office regional director, confirmed the lack of permit.
"Kanina, habang kausap natin 'yung liderato nila, sinabi nila na wala namang permit," he said.
Although authorities, including MMDA and NCRPO, had received intelligence about the possibility of a rally, they did not know when it would take place. According to Aberin, it was only on Monday night that they learned it would be pushing through at 3 a.m. on Tuesday.
According to retired Gen. Elmo San Diego, head of Quezon City Department of Public Order and Safety, in a interview with DZMM, since the rallyists have not presented a permit, authorities currently have no information as to when the gathering would disperse.
'Transparency and accountability'
Per Zabala, the INC is not against the law, but is against it being used to twist the truth.
"Hindi tutol ang INC sa pagtutupad ng batas pero tutol kami sa pagbaluktot sa batas lalo na kung ang layunin ay para pagtakpan ang katiwalian," he said in a statement he read at the rally.
"Gaya ng alam ng marami, si Sen. Rodante Marcoleta nanguna sa pag-imbestiga sa isa sa pinakamalaking pandarambong na naganap sa ating kasaysayan," he added, reminding the public that Marcoleta once served as chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.
"Ang ipinagtataka namin ay kung bakit siya, na nagsusulong sa pag-expose ng mga sangkot sa napakalaking pagnanakaw sa Pilipinas, ang kakasuhan at ipakukulong sa halip na ang mga na-expose," Zabala said.
If he is indeed charged with plunder, a non-bailable offense, Zabala said Marcoleta will be unable to continue his work of exposing corrupt officials. Further, the spokesperson wondered how accepting campaign donations can be considered plunder when these did not come from taxpayers' money but from Marcoleta's supporters.
"At mismong Comelec ay naglabas na ng desisyon na walang krimen na naganap sa pagtanggap niya ng campaign donation," Zabala added.
"Nanawagan kami para sa transparency, accountability, justice, and peace. Kaya nais naming iparinig sa mga kinauukulan na kahit ipakulong nila si Sen. Marcoleta ay hindi kami titigil sa paghingi ng katarungan para sa mga kababayan natin na nikawan," Zabala said.
EDSA watch
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has cancelled his appearance at the Presidential Luncheon of Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines on Tuesday to monitor the situation on EDSA.
According to Presidential Communications Office Sec. Dave Gomez, the President has cleared his schedule to keep track of the rally.
Meanwhile, the Department of the Interior and Local Government released a statement reaffirming its "respect for every Filipino's constitutional right to peacefully assemble and express their views."
"In connection with the Iglesia ni Cristo rally along EDSA, the DILG has directed the Philippine national Police, in close coordination with the concerned local government unit, to exercise maimum tolerance and implement appropriate security and traffic management measures to help ensure that the activity remains peaceful, orderly, and safe for all," the statement read.
It further urged all "participants and stakeholders" to abide by the rule of law, be responsible in the exercise of their rights, and cooperate with authorities.
"The department remains committed to protecting public safety while upholding the constitutional freedoms of every Filipino," the statement concluded.
