Palace reminds INC protesters: Right to assembly must follow the law

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang appealed to members of the religious group Iglesia ni Cristo to respect the law and the rights of other people after their gathering at the People Power Monument, which lacked a permit and affected major routes along EDSA.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said on Tuesday, June 30, that the rally not only affects the commitments of Malacañang and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. but also has a negative impact on ordinary citizens.

“Magkakaroon po ito ng impact sa bawat tao, sa bawat trabahador, sa bawat estudyante, sa bawat pasyente na nakasakay sa ambulansya na dadaan sana sa EDSA. Lahat ng ito, pati tayo rito, ay maaapektuhan,” Castro said.

(It will impact each person, each worker, each student, and each patient in an ambulance that is supposed to pass through EDSA. All of them, including us here, will be affected.)

Blocked routes, commuters affected

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) had to close EDSA Ortigas Service Road (Northbound), EDSA Ortigas Flyover (Northbound), EDSA Ortigas Flyover (Southbound) and White Plains Avenue (Eastbound and Westbound) on Tuesday morning after thousands of Iglesia ni Cristo members blocked the roads.

As of 5:30 p.m., the roads were still closed. Commuters were also severely affected by the slow-to-moderate-moving traffic in other parts of EDSA.

Marcos also had to cancel his morning events to monitor the situation.

“Ito po ay makakaapekto nang malaki sa ekonomiya, sa bawat negosyo, sa bawat tao na kailangan pumasok sa kanilang eskwelahan, sa kanilang trabaho o pumunta ng mabilisan sa ospital,” Castro added.

(This will significantly affect the economy, every business, every person who needs to go to school, go to work, or immediately get to the hospital.)

‘No permit’

Castro also stressed in the press briefing that rallies must be properly coordinated with the government so that proper preparations, like planning for alternative routes, can be made.

“Alam po naman natin na kapag nagra-rally at gagamit po kayo ng kalsada ay dapat may permit at hindi po ito dapat na inililihim para naman po makapaghanda ang gobyerno,” Castro said.

(We all know that when we hold a rally and use the roads, there should be a permit, and it should not be kept secret so the government can prepare.)

The rally was conducted in support of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, also an Iglesia ni Cristo member, who is facing a plunder charge before the Sandiganbayan over alleged anomalies in campaign contributions during the 2025 midterm elections.

Iglesia ni Cristo members and even Marcoleta himself said the non-bailable plunder case was a strategy to silence the lawmaker.

No tolerance for violators

Meanwhile, Malacañang said that while the president respects the rallyists’ right to conduct an assembly, any violation of the law will not be tolerated.

“Hindi kayo pinipigilan sa anumang kilos na ginagawa niyo, provided that your action should be in accordance with the law,” Castro said. “So kung meron po tayong makikita ngayon na violation ng anumang batas, ito po ay iimbestigahan at kung kailangan na managot… ay kailangan din pong managot.”

(You are not being prevented from conducting any mass action, provided that your action is in accordance with the law. So if we see any violation of the law, it will be investigated and if anyone needs to be held responsible… they should also be held accountable.)

The STAR earlier reported that members of Iglesia ni Cristo committed multiple traffic violations during their protest.

“Kung tayo po ay humihiling na ipatupad natin ang batas, hindi po ba dapat tayo din ay tumutupad sa batas?” Castro said.

(If we are asking for the law to be enforced, shouldn’t we also follow the law?)