Iglesia ni Cristo Rally Permit in Quezon City, Philippines, Could Be Canceled if Disorder Recurs

The Iglesia ni Cristo publicly opposed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and demanded that the presidential palace stop investigating Senator Rodante Marcoleta, according to South China Morning Post (SCMP) reporting. The protest was held on EDSA highway in Metro Manila, a site tied to the 1986 People Power uprising that ousted Marcos’ father.

Marcoleta, a member of the INC, was the first INC member elected to the Philippine Senate. He is at the center of a criminal case over allegations that he accepted 75 million pesos (US$1.2 million) in donations for his 2025 election campaign. SCMP reported that the rally came a day after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla announced that plunder charges would be filed against him. Plunder is a non-bailable offense.

Investigators stated that Marcoleta admitted receiving the funds, which were reportedly used to support his campaign. Marcoleta has not publicly commented on the investigation, so the account of his admission comes from investigators, not from him. Hearing a full account before drawing conclusions is the kind of honest dealing that Proverbs 18:17 addresses.

The Quezon City government approved the INC’s request for a rally permit for July 1 along White Plains Avenue to Temple Drive, and the Quezon City Department of Public Order and Safety (QC-DPOS) expressed “no objection” to a “peaceful rally” within the specified time frame. Ret. Gen. Elmo San Diego, who heads QC-DPOS, said the rally had been relocated to White Plains Avenue.

The two reports differ on where the rally took place. GMA News reported that the event was moved to White Plains Avenue, while SCMP described the protest as held on EDSA. On Tuesday, GMA reported, the crowd at the People Power Monument reached a peak of approximately 15,500.

San Diego said the permit could be denied or canceled if problems similar to those of the previous day occurred. The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said the second day of the rally may see an increase in attendees. Police Major Hazel Asilo suggested participant numbers could reach levels similar to the previous day, citing the permit as a factor.