MANILA, Philippines - With heavy traffic experienced by motorists along EDSA Friday night, outgoing Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas has assured a smooth flow of traffic on the major thoroughfare despite the massing up of Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) members.
Droves of INC followers have massed up at the corner of EDSA and Shaw Boulevard to protest the alleged bias of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima in the case against INC leaders.
During a press conference at the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame, Roxas said he and other government officials, including Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino and mayors Herbert Bautista of Quezon City and Benhur Abalos of Mandaluyong, have discussed on how to manage traffic in the area.
"Alam nyo po 17 milyon ang mga kababayan natin na nakatira dito sa kamaynilaan, sa NCR at itong mga kalye, itong mga arteries na ito ay kailangang manatiling bukas kumbaga sa kalusugan ng tao yan, kapag nagkaroon ng blockage konek-kunektado na po 'yan at baka magka-heart attack pa . Kaya napakahalaga po na manatiling bukas ang mga arteries na ito...para ang mga kababayan natin ay makakarating sa paroroonan," Roxas said.
He also said that the issue between the INC and the DOJ will be addressed in due time.
"Well ang isyu sa pagitan ng Iglesia at Department of Justice may proseso naman na tutugunan at titingin kung ano man talaga ang nangyari dyan. Ang layunin namin kaya kami nagpulong ay para masiguro 'yung kapakanan ng pangkalahatan lalong lalo na sa daloy ng trapik at pangalawa sa kaligtasan kasama na ang kapatiran ng Iglesia Ni Cristo," he said.
At the moment, several policemen from Quezon City and Mandaluyong City, as well as MMDA traffic enforcers have been deployed in the area to ensure that the INC ranks would not be infiltrated by groups that sought to disrupt the gathering.