By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — Thousands of members of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) gathered Tuesday in separate rallies in Quezon City and Manila, publicly expressing support for Sen. Rodante Marcoleta following the announcement by the Office of the Ombudsman that it intends to file a non-bailable plunder case against the lawmaker.
The largest gathering took place along EDSA near the People Power Monument, where authorities estimated the crowd at between 7,000 and 9,000 participants. The pre-dawn assembly caused heavy traffic congestion after portions of EDSA and nearby roads were occupied by rally participants and vehicles.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) launched traffic management operations, including the towing of illegally parked vehicles and buses that had obstructed parts of the highway. A brief commotion occurred when authorities moved to clear the blocked lanes, but the situation was peacefully resolved following negotiations between police officials and an INC spokesperson.
MMDA General Manager Nicolas Torre III said the agency’s priority was to restore traffic flow for thousands of commuters affected by the gridlock.
“Our priority right now is to reopen the road because many people are on their way to work, and they’re also being caught in the rain. The public has to come first,” Torre said.
Despite intermittent rains, the INC program continued as more participants arrived throughout the morning. Police maintained security while MMDA personnel gradually restored traffic along EDSA.
Meanwhile, a parallel demonstration was held at Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila, one of the city’s designated Freedom Parks, where public assemblies are allowed under existing laws. According to the Manila Police District (MPD), the program started at 7:50 a.m. and remained ongoing as of 9:00 a.m., with more than 400 participants and attendance continuing to increase.
The Manila rally echoed the same message delivered by the INC leadership through its spokesperson, Edwin Zabala, who read the church’s official statement expressing support for Marcoleta.
The INC stressed that while it respects the rule of law, it opposes what it described as the misuse of legal processes to shield corruption while prosecuting those who expose it.
The church questioned why Marcoleta—whom it described as one of the lawmakers who helped investigate alleged anomalies in government flood control projects—was now facing criminal charges instead of those allegedly involved in the controversy.
It likewise argued that the campaign contributions cited in the complaint were private donations rather than public funds and asked how such contributions could constitute plunder. The INC said it stands with Marcoleta’s advocacy for transparency, accountability, justice, and peace.
At Liwasang Bonifacio, protesters carried placards bearing messages such as **“Don’t Bend the Law,” “Ang Kurap Kinakanlong, Ang Nagbunyag Kinukulong!,” “Ang mga Kurakot ang Kasuhan!,” “No to Selective Justice,” and “Huwag Ikulong ang mga Nag-iimbestiga,” reflecting the church’s position that the legal action against the senator was unjust.
Earlier, Marcoleta himself alleged that the impending plunder case was intended not only to prosecute him but also to prevent him from participating in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, which is scheduled to begin on July 6. He denied any wrongdoing and maintained that the campaign donations cited by investigators were legitimate private contributions.
The Office of the Ombudsman, however, has maintained that the planned filing of the non-bailable plunder case is based on evidence gathered during its investigation into the alleged ₱75 million in campaign donations linked to the senator.
Authorities also tightened security around Malacañang Palace, temporarily closing the Solano and Arlegui gates and restricting traffic near Ayala Bridge and P. Casal Street as a precaution while the simultaneous rallies were underway.
As of press time, both gatherings remained generally peaceful despite the rain, with police continuing to monitor the situation and traffic authorities working to normalize vehicle flow across affected areas.
The demonstrations underscored the growing political tension surrounding the case against Marcoleta, which supporters view as an attack on a lawmaker who pursued investigations into alleged government corruption, while government officials maintain that the matter will ultimately be resolved through the country’s judicial process.
ia/xf
