MANILA, Philippines —An Iglesia ni Cristo-led rally at the EDSA People Power Monument disrupted traffic and led to arrests Tuesday, as the protest unfolded against the filing of plunder charges against Sen. Rodante Marcoleta and days before the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

The rally came after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said that plunder charges would be filed against Marcoleta and former lawmaker Mike Defensor over alleged campaign-fund anomalies in the 2025 elections. Remulla said Marcoleta’s own public declarations and formal documents became part of the evidence after the senator declared zero campaign contributions despite later acknowledging receipt of funds. (Philstar.com)

Malacañang criticized the surprise protest for causing public inconvenience, with ABS-CBN reporting that the Palace described the action as an “abuse” of rights after the rally snarled traffic along EDSA. (ABS-CBN)

The Manila Times reported that the INC protest caused traffic disruption and arrests along EDSA, while the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority earlier said several major portions of EDSA-Ortigas were affected. (The Manila Times)

The political stakes rose further as Senate President Win Gatchalian said the Senate was “very prepared” for Duterte’s impeachment trial set for July 6. (ABS-CBN)

Marcoleta has claimed the plunder case was meant to keep him from joining the impeachment trial. Remulla rejected suggestions that the case was politically engineered, saying the evidence emerged from public records and declarations. (Philstar.com)

Vice President Duterte later backed the rally against Marcoleta’s looming arrest, according to a Philstar report, further tying the street action to the broader fight over the impeachment proceedings.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines, meanwhile, monitored the “lightning rally” but rejected calls to intervene in government affairs, the Manila Bulletin reported. Rep. Robert Ace Barbers also urged Filipinos not to be distracted and to focus on the evidence in Duterte’s impeachment trial.

The rally has once again turned EDSA into the country’s political stage — this time with corruption charges, religious mobilization, Palace rebuke, Senate maneuvering, and the Duterte impeachment trial converging in one volatile moment.