Without any permit filed or prior coordination with authorities, Iglesia ni Cristo members by the tens of thousands descended on EDSA in the early hours of Tuesday, June 30, paralyzing one of Metro Manila's busiest thoroughfares and forcing police to scramble thousands of officers in response. The mass action, held in solidarity with Senator Rodante Marcoleta — who faces a non-bailable plunder case — ended with road closures, severe traffic disruption, and the arrest of several protesters following clashes with law enforcement.
A Crowd That Kept Growing Through the Morning
The Quezon City Police District initially estimated roughly 7,000 demonstrators gathered at the People Power Monument along EDSA at around 6:45 in the morning. That figure rose sharply as the hours passed. The Philippine National Police (PNP) placed the count at approximately 9,000 by 9 a.m., and at around 10 a.m., the PNP reported close to 10,000 people had massed along White Plains Avenue alone. Separately, nearly 1,000 more INC members assembled at the EDSA Shrine in Ortigas and at Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila, according to PNP reports.
Authorities Caught Flat-Footed by Unannounced Action
The gathering was held with no permit and no advance notice to any government agency, officials confirmed. National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Maj. Gen. Anthony Aberin disclosed that police only received word of the planned rally around midnight, prompting an emergency deployment that began as early as 3 a.m. — but the crowds were already arriving by 4 a.m., outpacing police preparations.
"Around 12 midnight, we received information about it, and we immediately prepared for deployment. We were able to deploy personnel as early as 3 a.m.; however, a large number of them arrived quickly and their numbers were overwhelming," Aberin said in Filipino, as quoted in media reports.
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Don Artes echoed the sentiment, stating that the MMDA had received zero notice. "Sa amin po sa MMDA, wala pong pasabi, walang coordination," Artes said, noting that even Quezon City police had no prior knowledge of the gathering. The PNP initially deployed around 900 officers, a number that eventually swelled to nearly 6,000 personnel positioned along EDSA for crowd management. The Department of the Interior and Local Government directed police to exercise maximum tolerance throughout the event, and PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. personally oversaw the operation.
INC Defends Marcoleta, Decries What It Calls Selective Justice
INC confirmed that the rally was held specifically in support of Marcoleta, who is a member of the church. Church spokesperson Bro. Edwil Zabala, speaking during a Net 25 livestream, said the INC was demanding "transparency, accountability, justice, and peace," and accused authorities of applying selective justice against the senator.
"The Iglesia ni Cristo supports what Senator Marcoleta stands for because it is also our position. We call for transparency, accountability, justice, and peace," Zabala stated in Filipino.
Zabala also argued that the non-bailable nature of the plunder charge was designed to silence Marcoleta before he could expose alleged irregularities, since a non-bailable charge would keep him in detention without trial. The church also pointed to a Commission on Elections ruling that reportedly found no violation in connection with Marcoleta's acceptance of the campaign donations central to the case.
Ombudsman Files P75-Million Plunder Case at Sandiganbayan
The plunder complaint stems from a filing made public by Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, who announced on Monday, June 29, that the case against Marcoleta would be submitted to the Sandiganbayan that week. The charge centers on P75 million in campaign donations. Alongside Marcoleta, former lawmaker Mike Defensor and donors Aristotle Viray and Joseph Espiritu were named as co-accused.
State prosecutors argued the donations surpassed the P50-million threshold for plunder as defined under Republic Act No. 7080, and that the funds were not declared in Marcoleta's statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN). Marcoleta has denied any wrongdoing, asserting the donations were private funds already disbursed for election-related purposes before his SALN was submitted.
On the day of the rally, Marcoleta alleged the timing of the case was deliberate, aimed at preventing his participation in Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial, which is scheduled to open on July 6. "Another thing they are hoping for is that I will no longer be able to participate in the impeachment proceedings scheduled to begin next week. In other words, they are hitting two birds with one stone," Marcoleta said.
Buses Moved to Block EDSA; Arrests Follow Police Confrontation
Around 8:30 in the morning, tensions spiked when protesters reportedly moved buses to block the northbound lanes of EDSA, including the EDSA Carousel busway. A number of individuals were subsequently arrested after some allegedly struck police officers during the confrontation. An Inquirer journalist present at the scene witnessed at least three arrests by 9 a.m. As of midday, authorities had yet to disclose the total number detained or the specific charges they would face.
Road Closures Imposed; MRT-3 and Busway Services Continued
The MMDA shut down White Plains Avenue and several stretches of EDSA in Quezon City and Mandaluyong, and began towing vehicles parked illegally to help ease the gridlock. The Department of Transportation confirmed that MRT-3 operations and EDSA Busway stations remained open and functional throughout the disruption, providing some relief to commuters unable to use the main road.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. cancelled at least two official engagements scheduled for the day — a marine litter management event and a luncheon with foreign correspondents — to personally monitor the unfolding situation. Malacañang said the President was keeping track of the welfare of commuters and workers stranded by the rally.
AFP Backs PNP Lead, Reaffirms Commitment to Democratic Order
The Armed Forces of the Philippines said its units based in the National Capital Region were coordinating with the PNP and relevant agencies to monitor the situation. AFP Public Affairs Office chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said in a statement that the military fully respects the constitutional right to peaceful assembly, but underscored that all public activities must comply with existing laws and permit requirements, with the PNP designated as the lead agency in maintaining peace and order on the ground.
The AFP further described itself as a "professional, non-partisan institution" dedicated to preserving peace, public safety, and the integrity of democratic institutions.
By the Numbers
- 7,000 — Estimated crowd at the People Power Monument at 6:45 a.m. (Quezon City Police District)
- 9,000 — Estimated crowd by 9 a.m. (PNP)
- 10,000 — Estimated crowd along White Plains Avenue by 10 a.m. (PNP)
- ~1,000 — Additional protesters at EDSA Shrine in Ortigas and Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila
- ~6,000 — PNP personnel deployed along EDSA (NCRPO)
- P75 million — Campaign donations at the core of the plunder case against Marcoleta
- P50 million — Legal threshold for plunder under Republic Act No. 7080
- July 6 — Scheduled start of Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial
Why This Matters
The June 30 EDSA demonstration stands as one of the largest unpermitted mass mobilizations in recent Metro Manila memory, requiring the deployment of nearly 6,000 police officers and bringing the country's most iconic protest highway to a standstill. The INC's decision to publicly throw its weight behind a senator facing a non-bailable plunder charge injects a powerful religious institution into an already volatile political moment. With Senator Marcoleta warning that the case may prevent him from joining Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment proceedings set for July 6, the rally underscores the deepening intersection of judicial, political, and civil society forces shaping Philippine governance at a critical juncture.
Source: Inquirer.net / Philippine Daily Inquirer