Major routes blocked due to Iglesia ni Cristo rally

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June 30, 2026 | 10:21am

MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) closed major routes along EDSA on Tuesday morning, June 30, after thousands of Iglesia ni Cristo members conducted an unannounced rally in support of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, who is facing a plunder case.

As of 7 a.m., the following roads were closed:

• EDSA Ortigas Service Road (Northbound)
• EDSA Ortigas Flyover (Northbound)
• EDSA Ortigas Flyover (Southbound)
• White Plains Avenue (Eastbound and Westbound)

The MMDA also reported moderate to slow-moving traffic along EDSA Southbound from Scout Borromeo to Ortigas Split and EDSA Northbound from Guadalupe to White Plains.

Aside from the People Power Monument, INC-linked rallyists also gathered at Liwasang Bonifacio. Authorities said they had not been informed about the gathering.

“Sa amin po sa MMDA, wala pong pasabi, walang coordination,” MMDA Chairman Don Artes said, adding that even the Quezon City police were unaware of the rally at the People Power Monument.
(From our end in the MMDA, there was no advisory, coordination)

Artes also appealed to the rally participants to "respect" other people's rights, especially those of workers trying to get to their jobs.

“Alam naman po natin marami po d’yan arawan ang sweldo. So kung hindi sila makakarating nang maaga sa kanilang trabaho, mababawasan sila ng sweldo”, Artes said. “Yung kikitain po nila na nawala, maaring ‘yun lang po ang inaasahan nilang pangkain sa kanilang pamilya… So sana po igalang.”
(We all know that most of them are daily wage earners. So, if they fail to arrive early on their jobs, their wages will be deducted. The loss in their income might be the only source they rely on to feed their families)

Iglesia ni Cristo spokesperson Edwin Zabala, meanwhile, confirmed that the rallies were held to support Marcoleta, one of their members, as he faces a non-bailable plunder charge.

“Ipakukulong siya at hindi pwedeng mag-pyansa hanggang hindi natatapos ang paglilitis sa kanya. Sa madaling salita ay hindi na niya maitutuloy ang paglalantad at pag-e-expose sa mga pandarambong na naganap,” Zabala said in a video statement.

This is not the first time Iglesia ni Cristo members have flocked to support fellow members facing charges. In 2015, thousands of them also gathered at the Department of Justice to protest then-Justice Secretary Leila De Lima's investigation into the alleged illegal detention of expelled church members.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla announced on Monday that a plunder case would be filed against Marcoleta and former congressman Mike Defensor before the Sandiganbayan over alleged anomalies involving campaign contributions in the 2025 midterm elections.

Meanwhile, in a statement, Marcoleta accused the Ombudsman of orchestrating the charges against him.