CITING inconvenience that was inflicted in the last two days, the Quezon City government moved to revoke the permit that was issued for the supposed third leg of the rally organized by the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC).
But instead of heading home, INC members in attendance at the EDSA People Power Monument moved to Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila to continue the protest which the group claimed was meant to call for “transparency and accountability.”
According to Elmo San Diego, in his capacity as chief of the Quezon City Public Order and Safety Department, the permit was recalled in view of complaints.
CONDITIONS BREACHED
“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,” reads part of the order.
“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.”
The Quezon City local government earlier issued an open-ended protest permit after the religious group originally demanded to hold a rally until 8:00 pm yesterday in support of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta.
MAN OF THE HOUR
As expected, Marcoleta showed up at yesterday’s rally, and expressed willingness to be arrested and jailed “to protect and defend justice and public interest.”
He earlier described allegations hurled against him by Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla as politically-motivated and without basis.
Remulla however maintained that “nothing has changed” in its decision to press formal charges against the senator for plunder amid an uproar from INC members.
“Nothing has changed. We will file,” Remulla told reporters at an event in Pasay yesterday.
Marcoleta is facing an imminent arrest amid the Ombudsman’s confirmation on filing plunder charges for campaign donations he received during the 2025 campaign.
DESTAB PLANS
National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Maj. Gen. Anthony Aberin earlier denied destabilization plans behind the INC 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,” said Aberin on Monday.
But after visiting the protest site Tuesday morning, Aberin hinted at monitoring a group unaffiliated with the INC, which mixed with the crowd of protesters when the sect began day two of the protest.
Heightened security has been hoisted by both the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) as early as Tuesday morning amid rumors of a mob attack in Malacañang Palace.
All roads leading to the Palace have been sealed — and heavily guarded.
Security along the borders of Metro Manila has also been tightened by the PNP. Border control checkpoints were established in key entry points to Metro Manila from Central Luzon and Calabarzon.
