MANILA, Philippines — The internet exploded with rage amid the ongoing protest led by religious group Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) on Tuesday.
In a Facebook post, Akbayan reminded Filipinos of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta’s admission of the allegations against him.
“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 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.
According to Social and Behavior Change Specialist Vonn Tanchuan, 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 was a “crucible test” for the INC and the current administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“Whether or not the INC this time around can force Malacanang 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 of the INC started around 4 a.m. on Tuesday and was attended by several politicians such as former lawmaker Mike Defensor, Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste and Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano.
