INC rally at EDSA Shrine. Photo courtesy of PNP-PIO.
Amidst traffic disruption at the Ortigas area on Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA), many Filipinos expressed dismay over the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC)’s support of Senator Rodante Marcoleta who is set to face plunder charges before the Sandiganbayan.
Thousands of INC members converged around the People Power Monument on early Tuesday morning to demonstrate their stand against government corruption and also air their support for Marcoleta despite evidence of the neophyte senator’s violations over election campaign donations.
The rally sparked social media outrage as netizens reminded Filipinos, particularly INC followers, about Marcoleta’s admission of the allegations against him.
“Just a reminder: Marcoleta admitted the allegations against him. He is the strongest evidence against himself,” opposition party-list group Akbayan critically pointed out.
Former Magdalo lawmaker Gary Alejano cited INC rallyists blocking EDSA intentionally with the intention of protecting Marcoleta and Vice President ‘Inday’ Sara Duterte-Carpio, whose impeachment trial is due to start on Monday next week.
Despite reports that the demonstration was orderly and peaceful, Alejano was incredulous as he questioned if “people can legally shout and protest without disturbing others?”
Political vlogger and rights activist Lovely Granada also expressed anger toward the INC supporters.
“You pretend to care for the struggles of the poor, but you’ve disrupted the lives of countless people who simply want to earn a living. You have every right to protest but you do not have the right to make the public suffer even more. You are not above the law,” Granada posted on Facebook.
According to social and behavior change specialist Vonn Tanchuan of the TobaccOFF NOW! Movement, the INC’s so-called ‘emergency rally’ disrupted his morning routine.
“Because of this—the Iglesia Ni Cristo defending a corrupt politician—many of us ordinary citizens are stranded here on EDSA. What would normally be a 30- to 40-minute trip to my destination in Mandaluyong has now turned into an hour and a half (and counting). It’s an enormous inconvenience,” Tanchuan posted also on Facebook.
“I support—and have even joined—protests because they are essential to a functioning democracy. But when a ‘rally’ is used for something pointless, like defending crooks in government, it serves no meaningful purpose. It’s so early in the morning, and it’s incredibly frustrating,” he added.
For Lawyer Edward Chico of the Asian Center for Legal Excellence, the rally was, however, a “crucible test” for the INC and the current administration of President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr.
“Whether or not the INC this time around can force Malacañan to drop the charges against Marcoleta or at the very least delay the preliminary investigation as regards his plunder case remains to be seen. It seems that the administration has already passed the proverbial point of no return where it couldn’t care less anymore about public perception and sentiment. 2028 is just around the corner. There is little time left to accomplish its political agenda,” Chico noted also on Facebook.
