Iglesia ni Cristo rally blocks major Manila routes; authorities cite lack of notice

Major thoroughfares in Metro Manila experienced severe traffic disruptions on Tuesday morning as thousands of Iglesia ni Cristo members converged for an unannounced rally. The gathering, held at the People Power Monument, was in support of Senator Rodante Marcoleta, who is facing a plunder case and potential jail time before his trial concludes.

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Sa amin po sa MMDA, wala pong pasabi, walang coordination.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) reported closures of key routes, including the EDSA Ortigas Service Road and Flyover, and White Plains Avenue. Traffic became moderate to slow-moving along significant portions of EDSA. Authorities, including MMDA Chairman Don Artes, stated they had no prior notification or coordination regarding the rally, a sentiment echoed by the Quezon City police.

Artes appealed to the rally participants to consider the impact on daily wage earners, many of whom rely on their daily earnings. He urged them to respect the rights of commuters trying to reach their jobs, emphasizing that lost income could affect families' ability to afford basic necessities. The rallies, which also took place at Liwasang Bonifacio, are reportedly to prevent Marcoleta from continuing his public exposés on alleged corruption.

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Sa madaling salita ay hindi na niya maitutuloy ang paglalantad at pag-e-expose sa mga pandarambong na naganap.

Iglesia ni Cristo spokesperson Edwin Zabala confirmed the rallies were a show of support for Marcoleta, a member of the church. He stated that the senator's inability to post bail meant he could not continue his work exposing corruption. This is not the first time the religious group has mobilized in support of members facing legal challenges; a similar large gathering occurred in 2015 at the Department of Justice.

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Alam naman po natin marami po d’yan arawan ang sweldo. So kung hindi sila makakarating nang maaga sa kanilang trabaho, mababawasan sila ng sweldo. Yung kikitain po nila na nawala, maaring ‘yun lang po ang inaasahan nilang pangkain sa kanilang pamilya… So sana po igalang.