THREE people were arrested and three policemen were injured during the surprise protest rally staged by the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) that paralyzed traffic flow along EDSA and streets around the People Power Monument in Quezon City.
Thousands of INC members were bused to the monument along White Plains Avenue, arriving as early as 4 a.m. to protest the impending arrest of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta on plunder charges. Protesters used the buses to block the northbound lanes of EDSA, including the EDSA Carousel bus lane, causing massive traffic snarls across Metro Manila all day.
A scuffle broke out between police and protesters when the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) ordered the arrest of a bus driver who was blocking the roadway. Among those arrested was a bus driver who refused to obey officers who told him to stop hitting a policewoman. Two others were arrested for punching police officers. The Philippine National Police (PNP) said it would file charges of direct assault against the suspects, who have yet to be identified.
Col. Allen Rae Co, PNP spokesman, said police would “exhaust all possible peaceful means of dispersing [the crowds] and ensuring that the situation returns to normal.” About 6,000 personnel from the NCRPO, Central Luzon, Calabarzon and Mimaropa were deployed to monitor the crowd that had swelled to 10,000 before noon.
Police were also sent to secure the Senate, Mendiola, Ayala Bridge, the US Embassy, Liwasang Bonifacio, and other identified locations, Co said.
Earlier in the day, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) implemented road closures and traffic adjustments near the People Power Monument in Quezon City. An MMDA official said the protest organizers did not have a rally permit.
The protesters had not dispersed by late afternoon Tuesday, and report said the Quezon City government granted them a permit to rally on Wednesday.
Rage over rally
The internet exploded with rage over the chaos caused by the INC rally.
In a Facebook post, Akbayan reminded Filipinos Marcoleta had admitted receiving P75 million in donations and did not include these contributions in his election spending report.
“Just a reminder: Marcoleta admitted the allegations against him. He is the strongest evidence against himself,” the opposition party-list said.
Former lawmaker Gary Alejano said the protesters blocked EDSA intentionally and their intention was to protect Marcoleta and Vice President Sara Duterte, whose impeachment trial is due to start on Monday next week.
“Can people legally shout and protest without disturbing others?” Alejano asked in Filipino.
Political vlogger and activist Lovely Granada also expressed her anger toward the INC supporters.
“You pretend to care for the struggles of the poor, but you’ve disrupted the lives of countless people who simply want to earn a living. You have every right to protest, but you do not have the right to make the public suffer even more. You are NOT above the law,” she wrote on Facebook.
Social and behavior change specialist Vonn Tanchuan said the protests disrupted his morning routine.
“Because of this ‘emergency rally’ by the Iglesia ni Cristo to defend a corrupt politician, many of us ordinary citizens are stranded here on EDSA. What would normally be a 30- to 40-minute trip to my destination in Mandaluyong has now turned into an hour and a half (and counting). It’s an enormous inconvenience,” Tanchuan wrote on Facebook.
“I support — and have even joined — protests because they are essential to a functioning democracy. But when a ‘rally’ is used for something pointless, like defending crooks in government, it serves no meaningful purpose. It’s so early in the morning, and it’s incredibly frustrating,” he added.
Lawyer Edward Chico from the Asian Center for Legal Excellence said the rally is a “crucible test” for the INC and the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“Whether or not the INC this time around can force Malacañang to drop the charges against Marcoleta or at the very least delay the preliminary investigation as regards his plunder case remains to be seen. It seems that the administration has already passed the proverbial point of no return where it couldn’t care less anymore about public perception and sentiment. 2028 is just around the corner. There is little time left to accomplish its political agenda,” Chico said on Facebook.
The rally was joined by several anti-administration politicians such as former lawmaker Mike Defensor, who is also facing plunder charges, Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste and Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano.
No threat
Despite the beefed up security, the Palace said President Marcos does not consider the unannounced rally a threat.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Marcos has ordered maximum tolerance and decided to cancel his morning engagements to monitor the possible impact of the rally on the public and the economy.
“The president is monitoring developments, not only for the Palace but also for the people affected and stranded in traffic because of this rally,” Castro said during a Palace press briefing.
Castro said the surprise rally does not just affect Malacañang but the public whose daily travel to work, school, and even emergency vehicles was disrupted. She assured the public that the government is ready in case the INC decides to extend their rally on EDSA beyond Tuesday.
“The president respects every person’s right to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly. However, the president does not condone any abuses committed under the guise of exercising these rights,” Castro said.
Meanwhile, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said he is confident that Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla would not cave in to the pressure from the INC rally in support of Marcoleta.
Despite the traffic gridlock caused by Marcoleta’s supporters, the Philippine National Police (PNP) would maintain peace and order, he said.
“Ombudsman Boying is tough as a Caviteño will always be. I trust that he won’t cave in to the INC rallies and pressure -- not today, not tomorrow and certainly not when Sen. Marcoleta’s plunder case is filed in court as earlier announced,” Lacson wrote on X.
“His INC backers may block EDSA all they want and cause traffic jams and chaos to the discomfort of ordinary commuters. Surely, the PNP will be there to maintain peace and order,” he added.
MRT, Busway still working
Operations of the MRT-3 and EDSA Busway remained uninterrupted on Tuesday, as authorities intensified security and traffic management measures during the rally.
Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez inspected key MRT-3 stations to assess the readiness of security personnel and ensure that train services would continue despite the large gathering along EDSA.
Lopez, accompanied by MRT-3 General Manager Michael Capati, visited the North Avenue and Santolan stations, where he checked security arrangements and the deployment of personnel tasked with assisting commuters.
EDSA Busway operations continued despite heavier traffic caused by the mass gathering.
