MANILA, Philippines —The Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) on Tuesday defended the massive gathering of its members at the EDSA Shrine, describing the demonstration as a peaceful show of support for Senator Rodante Marcoleta following the filing of plunder charges against him, even as tensions briefly flared between police and rally participants during the morning rush hour. (Facebook)

The gathering, which police earlier described as an “emergency rally,” occupied portions of EDSA and significantly slowed traffic in one of Metro Manila’s busiest thoroughfares. The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said organizers had not secured a rally permit, prompting authorities to closely monitor the assembly and implement traffic rerouting measures. (ABS-CBN)

INC cites support for Marcoleta

In a statement carried by media outlets, the INC said the rally was intended to express solidarity with Marcoleta after the Ombudsman filed plunder charges against the senator. Marcoleta has dismissed the case as politically motivated, arguing that it was meant to prevent him from participating in the forthcoming impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte. (Facebook)

Earlier Tuesday, Marcoleta maintained that the charges were filed to keep him away from the impeachment trial, a claim that government authorities have not endorsed. Prosecutors have yet to publicly respond to his allegation. (Facebook)

Police report confrontation

The Philippine National Police (PNP) deployed thousands of personnel around the EDSA Shrine and nearby intersections as crowds continued to build throughout the morning.

Video footage circulated by television networks showed moments of tension after police attempted to manage the movement of rally participants, resulting in brief pushing incidents between officers and demonstrators before order was restored. (ABS-CBN)

As of Tuesday afternoon, authorities said several police personnel sustained minor injuries during the confrontation while performing crowd-control duties. Police officials appealed for calm and urged participants to cooperate with law enforcement to prevent further incidents. Authorities have not reported any serious injuries among demonstrators. (ABS-CBN)

DILG orders maximum tolerance

Amid the growing crowd, the Department of the Interior and Local Government directed the PNP to exercise “maximum tolerance” in dealing with rally participants.

The order emphasized that while authorities must enforce public safety and traffic regulations, they should also respect citizens’ constitutional rights to peaceful assembly. (ABS-CBN)

Marcos suspends public engagements

The rapidly evolving situation prompted Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to cancel his scheduled public engagements on Tuesday morning to personally monitor developments surrounding the rally, according to Palace reports. (Facebook)

The President has yet to issue a public statement on the demonstration itself.

Political backdrop

Tuesday’s mobilization unfolded just hours after the Ombudsman announced it had filed plunder charges against Marcoleta and former congressman Mike Defensor, both considered political allies of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

The rally also came only days after the “White Ribbon” mobilization led by Christian and evangelical groups calling for transparency and accountability in government, and less than a week before the scheduled impeachment trial of Sara Duterte. (Facebook)

Political analysts say the convergence of these developments reflects an increasingly polarized political climate as rival camps seek to shape public opinion ahead of the impeachment proceedings.

Heightened security

The PNP said it would continue coordinating with the MMDA and local government units to maintain peace and manage traffic while monitoring developments throughout the day.

Authorities urged both motorists and demonstrators to remain patient and avoid actions that could escalate tensions, stressing that the government’s priority is to protect both public safety and the constitutional right to peaceful assembly. (ABS-CBN)