With the rallyists identified to be members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo.
Early Tuesday morning, June 30, motorists traversing the major thoroughfare Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) were stunned after thousands descended to the People Power Monument along the highway’s corner with Whiteplains Avenue.
Carried by buses, which were marked with logos of the New Era University, authorities later identified the protesters to be mostly members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC).
Hours later, through the sect-affiliated station NET25, INC Spokesperson Edwin Zabala read out the church’s statement on the said protest.
“Hindi tutol ang Iglesia Ni Cristo sa pagpapatupad ng batas. Pero, tutol kami sa pagbaluktot sa batas lalo na kung ang layunin ay para pagtakpan ang katiwalian,” he opened the statement.
He then mentioned Senator Rodante Marcoleta, who is affiliated with the INC and NET25 through the program Sa Ganang Mamamayan.
Zabala noted that the lawmaker, who previously sat as the chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, was leading what he said was an exposé into the flood control corruption scandal before being replaced after the leadership shake-up earlier in the month.
“Ang ipinagtataka namin ay kung bakit siya na nagsusulong sa pag-expose ng mga sangkot sa napakalaking pagnanakaw sa Pilipinas ang kakasuhan at ipakukulong sa halip na ang mga na-expose,” the spokesperson continued.
On Monday, June 29, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla confirmed that his office will file a plunder case against Marcoleta before the Sandiganbayan this week over his alleged acceptance of P75 million donation from private individuals, such as Mike Defensor and two others, while he was already serving as Congressman in the House of Representatives.
Noting that plunder is a non-bailable crime, Zabala told, “Samakatuwid, ipakukulong siya at hindi pwedeng magpiyansa hangga’t hindi natatapos ang paglilitis sa kaniya.“
He also claimed, “Sa madaling salita ay hindi na niya maitutuloy ang paglalantad o pag-e-expose sa mga sangkot sa pandarambong na naganap.“
For the sect, they viewed that it should not ne considered plunder and cited the Commission on Elections (COMELEC)’s previous decision that cleared him of supposed violations.
“Pero, paanong naging plunder ang pagtanggap ng campaign donation o campaign contribution? Hindi naman galing sa kabang-yaman ng Pilipinas ang tinanggap niyang donation mula sa mga sumuporta sa kaniyang pagkandidato bilang senador. At mismong ang COMELEC ay naglabas na ng desisyon na walang krimen na naganap sa pagtanggap niya ng campaign donation.“
Zabala the emphasized that the INC members are calling for transparency, accountability, justice and peace, as he also expressed their support for the senator.
“Kaya, nais naming iparinig sa mga kinauukulan na kahit ipakulong nila si Senator Marcoleta ay hindi kami titigil sa paghingi ng katarungan para sa mga kababayan natin na ninakawan,” the INC spokesperson added. “Gusto naming ipaalam sa kanila na isang injustice ang selective justice at hindi kami mananahimik sa harap nitong napakalaking pagyurak sa katarungan na hinihingi ng ating mga kababayan.”
Aside from EDSA, members of the church were also spotted at the Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila, but were not dispersed, with the park being designated as a freedom park.
DILG: MAXIMUM TOLERANCE
In a statement, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said that the agency respects the constitutional rights of Filipinos to peacefully assemble and express their views.
“In connection with the Iglesia ni Cristo rally along EDSA, the DILG has directed the Philippine National Police (PNP), in close coordination with the concerned local government unit, to exercise maximum tolerance and implement appropriate security and traffic management measures to help ensure that the activity remains peaceful, orderly, and safe for all,” the agency added.
The DILG also called on all participants and stakeholders to exercise their rights responsibly, uphold the rule of law, and cooperate with authorities throughout the activity.
“The Department remains committed to protecting public safety while upholding the constitutional freedoms of every Filipino,” it added.
MALACAÑANG
Meanwhile, the Malacañan Palace, through Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro, has reacted to the situation along EDSA.
“Iyong rally kaninang madaling araw ay nabigyan naman agad ng impormasyon ang Pangulo (Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.) at ang Pangulo naman ay nirirespeto ang karapatan ng bawat tao, ang freedom of expression, ang freedom of assembly pero hindi kinikilala ng Pangulo ang mga pang-aabuso na kaakibat dito,” Castro said.
When asked about what kind of abuse was she referring to, the official said, “Maari nating masabi kung may pang-aabuso kung nakakaapekto na sila ng ibang tao. Karapatan din naman lahat natin na galangin din ang karapatan ng bawat isa.“
Meanwhile, she also relayed that President Ferdinand Marcos has said that there shall br maximum tolerance and implement the appropriate actions for those who will violate laws.
Castro also said that Marcos is also monitoring the situation and denied that this is a threat to the Palace.
“Wala pong nakikitang threat dahil alam naman po ng Pangulo na ang kaniyang ginagawa ay para sa taumbayan. So, kung mayroon lang po sigurong mga ibang interes o interes ng ibang grupo, interes ng iilang tao, hindi po siya dapat na maging hadlang sa pagpapatupad ng Pangulo at ng administrasyong ito ng batas,” she stated.
Meanwhile, the PCO Undersecretary also requested that the protestors coordinate with the government before proceeding with their demonstration.
“Ang pakiusap lang po natin sana kung magkakaroon ng mga pagpuprotesta o gathering ay makipag-coordinate naman sa gobyerno dahil hindi naman ang gobyerno ay nagku-control or hindi nagpapahinto, hindi kayo pinipigilan sa anumang kilos na ginagawa ninyo provided that your actions should be in accordance with the law,” she said.
As regards to the video statement of Senator Marcoleta, where he said. “Ang kasalanan ko lamang po ay iyong paglingkuran kayo” and warned, “Ngunit kapag ako ay kanilang inaresto, hindi na po matutuloy iyan (flood control case probe).”
“Iyong pangyayaring ito, ito ay patungkol sa 75 million pesos na dinoneyt [donated] sa kaniya. Ang kaso na sa ngayon ay kinakaharap niya ay galing sa kaniya mismo ang admissions,” Castro said.
“So, doon lamang po umiikot ang kaso. At siya naman po, ang sabi niya ay naniniwala siya sa justice system natin dahil tumututol sila noon sa pag-surrender sa ating dating Pangulong Duterte sa ICC. So, pinanindigan nila na ang justice system naman natin ay umiiral, so bakit hindi natin paganahin ang justice system natin at hayaan natin ang proseso,” she furthered.
Meanwhile, the Palace official said that there is no “selective justice” in the handling of the corruption case.
“Sa ngayon ay wala pong selective justice na namamayani sa administrasyon ni Pangulong Marcos Jr. Kaya nga po kahit na kaibigan, kaalyado, nauna pa po na nakulong, na-detain at ngayon ay humaharap sa kaso ng plunder at graft case. Doon pa lamang po ay maipapakita na totoo ang sinabi ng Pangulo, kahit anong kulay ninyo, kamag-anak, kaibigan, kapag kayo po ay may ebidensiya at may ebidensiya laban sa inyo, sa korte ninyo na lamang po ito ipaliwanag or depensahan. At kung kayo po ay makakapagdepensa sa sarili, iyon naman po ang masasabi nating justice,” she also said.
“So, mas masasabi po siguro nating selective justice kung gagamit ng impluwensiya, karahasan, pananakot para lang hindi makasuhan ang isang kaalyado. Iyon po ang selective justice.“
Meanwhile, Castro did not answer if there were lapses in intelligence of authorities before this rally was mounted.
“Hindi ko po masasagot kung nagkaroon ng intelligence lapses dahil madaling araw po ay nalaman na po namin,“ she said. “Siguro po talagang plinano na magkaroon ng surprise rally, itinago at although sabi nga natin iginagalang natin ang liderato ng INC pero ang pag-admit na ito ay isang surprise rally at itinago hindi po iyon maganda, hindi siya maayos dahil hindi po siya tumutupad sa batas at hindi rin po ito gumagalang sa karapatan ng ibang tao.”
“But still, ang Pangulo po ay nakikinig, iginagalang sila. Ang tangi lamang niyang hiling ay igalang natin lahat iyong mga naaapektuhan na dapat ay hindi naaapektuhan,” Castro also said during the press briefing.