What was intended as a show of force quickly turned into a social media firestorm, with thousands of Filipinos venting their frustration online after the surprise rally by members of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) brought large portions of EDSA to a virtual standstill on Tuesday.
While organizers described the gathering as a demonstration against what they called “selective justice” in connection with the impending plunder case against Senator Rodante Marcoleta, public attention rapidly shifted from the political message to the widespread traffic paralysis that disrupted the morning rush.
The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) confirmed that its online monitoring showed the dominant public reaction was negative, with many social media users expressing anger over the massive congestion, road closures, and the inconvenience suffered by commuters, workers, students, and motorists.
According to the CICC’s Threat Monitoring Center, online discussions were initially dominated by news reports and traffic advisories before evolving into widespread criticism of the rally’s impact on Metro Manila’s busiest highway. Authorities are also maintaining 24/7 online monitoring to identify possible misinformation and fake content related to the protest.
Social media platforms were flooded with complaints from stranded commuters, employees arriving late for work, motorists trapped for hours, and users questioning why one of the country’s busiest roads had been effectively taken over without prior public notice.
Many posts criticized the disruption to ordinary Filipinos who had no connection to the political issue being raised, arguing that the burden of the protest fell disproportionately on commuters trying to reach work, school, hospitals, and other essential destinations.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) repeatedly advised motorists to avoid affected sections of EDSA, particularly near the People Power Monument and White Plains Avenue, where thousands of rally participants gathered. Authorities said the northbound lanes experienced severe congestion while portions of the EDSA Busway were also affected.
The gathering eventually swelled to an estimated 13,000 participants, according to police, prompting the deployment of additional security personnel from neighboring regions to maintain peace and manage traffic.
The protest also drew political reactions.
Senator Panfilo Lacson publicly criticized the disruption, saying that regardless of the demonstration, legal proceedings should continue without being influenced by public pressure. He also lamented the inconvenience suffered by ordinary commuters caught in the gridlock.
Meanwhile, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reportedly canceled his scheduled morning engagements to closely monitor the situation unfolding along EDSA from Malacañang as authorities assessed security and traffic conditions.
Despite the backlash online, the Philippine National Police emphasized that it continues to respect the constitutional right to peaceful assembly while urging participants to remain orderly and comply with authorities to minimize disruptions.
The CICC, for its part, appealed to the public to remain vigilant against false or misleading information circulating online and encouraged citizens to report suspected disinformation through its official hotline as monitoring continues.
Editor’s note: While online monitoring found that negative reactions over traffic disruption were prominent, public opinion was not uniform. Some social media users expressed support for the rally or focused on its political message rather than the resulting traffic. The CICC’s findings describe trends observed in monitored online discussions and should not be interpreted as representing the views of all Filipinos.