Iglesia rally moving to Liwasang Bonifacio

MANILA, Philippines —  The Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) rally will be moved to Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila today, after the Quezon City government recalled the permit it issued for the third day of the EDSA protest, an official confirmed to The STAR, citing inconveniences that commuters and workers experienced.

As a result, the INC ended its program along EDSA last night at around 8.

Elmo San Diego, head of Quezon City’s Department of Public Order and Safety, said the permit was recalled due to “several complaints received.”

“We regret to inform you that after judicious evaluation of the current circumstances, particularly the severe difficulties being experienced by the general public due to the conduct of the rally along EDSA and White Plains Avenue, the Department of Public Order and Safety is constrained to withdraw its no objection/rally permit to the said activity issued as of even date,” the revocation order, issued last night, stated.

“Thousands were late to school and work, or were not able to proceed entirely, and businesses were compromised,” the QC office said in a statement. “They (protesters) also violated the agreement to remain along White Plains and not occupy EDSA.”

QC issued an open-ended protest permit yesterday to INC after the religious group originally demanded to hold a rally until today to show support for Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, who may face plunder charges for campaign donations he received during the 2025 campaign.

San Diego explained yesterday morning that he proposed the issuance of an open-ended permit after initial information came about that 100,000 people could swarm White Plains Avenue.

“So, I said that might as well divide it into days, then, depending on how many attend per day, we will address all logistics because it’s a logistical challenge for us to have that many people, as we will be needing a lot of people on our own,” the safety chief explained.

The QC government, according to San Diego, would have to ensure the security of protesters even if they decide to sleep on the road. Authorities would also have to provide food for all deployed police officers.

Marcoleta attended yesterday’s rally, where he said he is “ready” to be arrested and jailed if that is what it took for him to stand on his supposed advocacy “to protect and defend justice and public interest.”

He claimed the allegations against him are only a result of politicking as it was borne out of rumors and were without basis.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla maintained “nothing has changed” in its decision to sue Marcoleta for plunder amid an uproar from INC members.

“Nothing has changed. We will file,” Remulla told reporters at an event in Pasay yesterday.

Crowd estimates on the second day of the protests didn’t come close to the expected target. As of 3:45 p.m., the Quezon City Police District recorded 6,000 protesters in the area.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Maj. Gen. Anthony Aberin said the situation yesterday was far more peaceful than Tuesday’s.

“The situation today is far different because there are rules being followed due to the issuance of the permit,” he told radio dzBB. “On Tuesday, it was anything goes – whatever the rallyists wanted because there was no leader.”

“I consider this still a rally… we are not seeing any destabilization because the rally is covered by a permit and, at the same time, protesters are confined within a single area, at the People Power Monument,” he added.

But during his visit to the protest site yesterday morning, Aberin said intelligence operatives had monitored a group unaffiliated with the INC, which mixed with the crowd of protesters when the sect began its surprise rally on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, vehicular traffic in both the northbound and southbound lanes of EDSA was already moving, with buses from New Era University parked along White Plains Avenue.

Security along the borders of Metro Manila has been tightened by the Philippine National Police. PNP spokesman Col. Allen Rae Co said border control checkpoints were established in key entry points to Metro Manila from Central Luzon and Calabarzon.

“This is not specifically to prevent anybody from coming to Metro Manila but as always, the safety of the public is what we are looking at so we are filtering, this is normally being done,” Co said in a news briefing at Camp Crame.

Groups slams INC

More than 30 civil society groups yesterday signed a statement denouncing the INC rally and questioning the need for Marcoleta to tap tens of thousands of people to defend him against a legal investigation.

“In a constitutional democracy, no public official – regardless of popularity, office, political influence or institutional backing – should require the organized mobilization of thousands of supporters to influence, discourage or cast doubt upon the impartial enforcement of the law,” the groups said.

The signatories include Tindig Pilipinas, Akbayan Party, Liberal Party, Mamamayang Liberal party-list, Magdalo Party, 1Sambayan, Akbayan Youth, Alyansa ng Samahang Pantao, Alyansa Tigil Mina, August Twenty One Movement, Beatus Circle, Buhay ang People Power Campaign Network, Democracy Watch Philippines, EveryWoman, FAITH, Kilos Maralita, Liberal Youth, Manindigan Na, NETCAB, Pandayan para sa Sosyalistang Pilipinas, Partido Manggagawa, People’s Choice Movement, Prayer Batallion, Project Gunita, – Marc Jayson Cayabyab, Emmanuel Tupas, Daphne Galvez, Bella Cariaso, Evelyn Macairan, Ghio Ong, Andrew Ronquillo