INC secures July 1 permit as rally enters Day 2 in Quezon City

QUEZON CITY, Philippines — The Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) rally entered Day 2 on Wednesday after they  secured a permit for the protest-action on July 1. The demonstration began early Tuesday morning and was mounted by the INC in support of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, who faces an impending plunder case in connection with a P75-million donation made right before his 2025 senatorial bid.

The rally is branded as an anti-corruption rally, with organizers saying its primary objective is to call for accountability in government and to denounce alleged corruption in public institutions. Participants carried placards bearing anti-corruption messages and emphasized that the gathering was intended to promote transparency, integrity, and good governance.

Despite the rally’s stated theme, the event has also drawn attention because it comes amid legal issues involving Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, prompting both supporters and critics to debate the timing and broader implications of the demonstration. Organizers, however, have maintained that the rally is centered on opposing corruption and upholding what they describe as “the rule of law”.

Authorities said about 600 Philippine National Police personnel were deployed to secure the rally area, but the number could rise to as many as 2,500 depending on the situation. Police also said as many as 100,000 protesters were expected to join the gathering.

Compared to the Tuesday rally, the event on Wednesday was allowed only along White Plains Avenue from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and no roads were to be blocked during the conduct of the protest-action.

Two  northbound lanes of EDSA were filled with parked vehicles belonging to rally participants, along with patrol cars and other vehicles of police officials monitoring the area, as the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) rally continued on Wednesday. The heavy presence of vehicles narrowed the roadway and added to congestion in the vicinity, with authorities maintaining a visible security deployment to manage the crowd and keep traffic moving as much as possible.

With this, The Manila Police Department deployed container vans, concrete barriers, and police barricades to major access points to the palace complex to prevent unauthorized entry.

As of Wednesday afternoon, authorities reported no major incidents have occurred related to the protest. Police and local officials continued to monitor the situation closely and said security personnel would remain on-site until the conclusion of the rally at 8 p.m.

It remains unclear whether INC  will seek another permit to continue the demonstration beyond July 1. The Quezon City government said any request for an extension would be evaluated separately in accordance with existing regulations and public safety considerations.