Philippine church group continues protests, disrupting Manila

An influential religious group continued its protests in Manila for a second day on July 7, rallying in support of Senator Rodante Marcoleta, an ally of Vice President Sara Duterte. The demonstrations, held at the People Power Monument, saw approximately 3,000 participants, a significant drop from the over 14,000 who gathered on July 6. Despite the reduced numbers, the protests continued to disrupt traffic on the capital's main highway.

The rallies are reportedly in support of Senator Marcoleta, who may face plunder charges this week related to campaign donations. The timing of the protests is notable, occurring just days before Vice President Duterte's impeachment trial is set to begin in the Senate. The government has publicly criticized the demonstrations, expressing concerns that they could negatively impact the economy.

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Protests are meant to inconvenience so we would wake up to what is happening around us.

Senator President Alan Peter Cayetano, also an ally of Duterte and Marcoleta, apologized on July 6 for the traffic gridlock caused by the protests, stating that "Protests are meant to inconvenience so we would wake up to what is happening around us." The ongoing political turmoil in the Philippines is exacerbated by the rift between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Duterte. This political tension adds to the economic challenges facing the Southeast Asian nation, which is already grappling with high inflation rates.

Senator Imee Marcos, another supporter of the Vice President, also attended the rally on Tuesday evening. The protests, which initially lacked a permit on July 6, led President Marcos to cancel his public engagements. However, he is scheduled to proceed with a state visit to Canada. The local government has since approved a permit for a second day of demonstrations, allowing protesters to remain until 8 p.m. on July 7. Police spokesperson Colonel Allan Rae Co expressed hope that intentional road blockages by vehicles would be avoided.

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We hope we will no longer experience the intentional blocking of roads by vehicles and buses to stop the traffic.