More than a million members of Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) on Monday gather in different parts of the country for the National Rally for Peace in support of the anti-impeachment stand of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
In Quirino Grandstand in Manila, the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (MDRRMO) estimated that as of 9:00am the crowd already reached 701,145.
The number of participants is expected to increase as the activity continues up to 6:00pm.
In Davao City, around 300,000 members of INC gathered at the CM Recto corner San Pedro and Rizal streets according to the Davao City Police Office (DCPO).
In Cebu City an estimated 45, 000 individuals gathered in South Road Project (SRP) Grounds at around 7:00am.
As early as Sunday afternoon some INC members from different provinces were already in Quirino Grandstand ahead of the Monday’s grand rally.
Thousands of INC members also join the same rally in Sunburst Park in Iloilo Freedom Grandstand according to Iloilo City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO).
Classes and work in government offices were suspended in the cities of Manila, Pasay, Quezon, Iloilo and Davao.
Roads surrounding and leading to Quirino Grandstand were already closed as early as 4:00am.
In a statement, the INC reiterated that they support President Marcos’ stand against the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte.
“There are many more things which our citizens need that must be attended to. These will not be achieved if all we see taking place is conflict”, the INC stated.
There are three impeachment complaints filed against Vice President Duterte in the House of Representatives.
A fourth impeachment complaint is reportedly to be filed this week against the vice president still in connection with the alleged misuse of the P612M confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DEPED).
The impeachment complaints against Duterte have been verified but not yet transmitted to the office of House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
(Manila DRRMO Photo)
Abner is an award-winning journalist. He received the prestigious 2015 Titus Brandsma Award for Community Communication in the Philippines and participated in the 2016 International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) of the United States of America, sponsored by the US Embassy in the Philippines. Founder of WATCH NORTH COTABATO, a media-citizens’ transparency group. He worked as a correspondent for the Philippine Daily Inquirer and CNN Philippines. His experience in broadcasting includes anchoring for Brigada News FM in Kidapawan and General Santos City and Brigada News TV. He anchors Tira Brigada via 105.1 Brigada News FM Manila, Mondays-Saturdays.