MANILA, Philippines — The second day of the protest of members of Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) at the People Power Monument along White Plains Avenue in Quezon City on Wednesday drew a significantly lower crowd compared to its first day despite an expectation of more or less 100,000 attendees.
After peaking at 14,100 at around 4 pm on Tuesday (June 30) the protesters only drew 5,000 people at its most at around 3 pm, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).
National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Maj. Gen Anthony Aberin earlier said around 7,000 police personnel have been deployed across Metro Manila to secure key areas, including Malacañang, the Office of the Ombudsman, and the People Power Monument.
Of the total deployment, nearly 3,000 police officers have been assigned at the People Power Monument.
Aberin noted that the situation on the second day of the protest has been more orderly than the first day, attributing this to the issuance of a rally permit and compliance with its conditions.
“Because of the issuance of the permit, talagang in-invoke natin na dapat yung pre-conditions na nakalagay po doon, yung mga tagubilin o kundisyon dapat masunod. So doon po nagkatalo. Kahapon kasi wala pong permit na na-issue. But we have observed maximum tolerance,” Aberin said.
On Tuesday, thousands of demonstrators trooped to the People Power Monument unannounced after the Office of the Ombudsman announced that plunder charges will be filed against Sen. Rodante Marcoleta over his acceptance of P75 million campaign - related donations.
The mass action caught many by surprise including motorists, commuters, and the police paralyzing a huge chunk of EDSA on Tuesday and rallied without permit.
Organizers however were able to secure a permit to gather on Wednesday.
Aberin said that organizers and participants are expected to comply with the conditions stated in the permit.
“Dapat may order po, then panatilihin po yung disiplina — yung sa mga basura, parking places po, lahat,” he said.
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