Marcos monitoring protests

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MANILA, Philippines — Although it was not seen by the administration as a threat, the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) rally at EDSA yesterday prompted President Marcos to cancel some of his events and government troops to tighten security around Malacañang.

Marcos was supposed to attend the inauguration of a South Korea-donated marine cleanup vessel in Manila and a luncheon with the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines in Makati, but skipped them to monitor the rally, which coincided with the fourth anniversary of his presidency.

However, Marcos’ acceptance of the credentials of US Ambassador Lee Lipton pushed through.

Security cordons were placed in front of the Arlegui and Solano gates at the Malacañang complex, leaving the Laurel entrance as the only entry point open to vehicles.

Despite the canceled events and the enhanced security measures, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the government does not view the rally, which was meant to express support for Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, as posing a threat.

“We do not see a threat because the President knows that what he is doing is for the people. If other groups have interests, they should not prevent the President and the administration from implementing the law,” Castro said at a press briefing.

The rally was held a day after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla announced that non-bailable plunder charges would be filed against Marcoleta, an INC member, in relation to P75-million undeclared campaign donations during the 2025 polls.

Castro added that Marcos respects the right to free expression and freedom of assembly but does not recognize the abuses that may stem from them.

“We can say that there is abuse if they affect other people. We also have to respect each other’s rights,” the Palace press officer said.

She described the people affected by the “surprise” rally as “collateral damage,” saying: “People who should not be affected were affected. It had a huge impact on the economy, every business and every person who needed to go to school or report for work or rush to the hospital. If you intend to hold a rally... there should be a permit. It should not be kept secret so the government can prepare.”

No selective justice

The Palace also rejected the INC’s claim that there is “selective justice” under the Marcos administration, saying Marcoleta’s legal troubles stemmed from his own admission that he had received millions in campaign donations.

“There is no selective justice prevailing in the administration of President Marcos,” Castro said. “Regardless of your color, whether you are a relative or a friend, if there is evidence against you, you explain or defend yourself before the court. If you can defend yourself, that is what we call justice. We can say that there is selective justice if influence, violence or intimidation is used to prevent the filing of cases against an ally.”

As an example, Castro cited former senator Bong Revilla, an administration-backed senatorial candidate in the 2025 elections who is now detained over his alleged involvement in the flood control scam.

She also pointed out that Marcoleta had publicly admitted on his television program that he received P75 million from donors who wished to remain anonymous.

“Nobody ordered him (Marcoleta) to explain it. It just happened that his SALN (statement of assets, liabilities and net worth) and SOCE (statement of contributions and expenditures) did not match... He was not forced. There was evidence that he himself revealed,” Castro said.

The Palace official added that public demonstrations cannot clear anyone of criminal liability.

“To those who are in the rally, if you want to save Senator Marcoleta, you should not have resorted to this because many of our countrymen were affected,” she said. “A person is cleared of charges in court. It cannot be done through rallies. But the President listens to your call for transparency, accountability, the implementation of the law and that is what the government has been doing since he assumed office.”

Duterte hits admin

Vice President Sara Duterte, however, believed otherwise.

In a statement yesterday, Duterte viewed the turnout of thousands of INC members as a reflection of the Marcos administration’s poor governance.

“While countless of our kababayans struggle with rising prices, job insecurity and the increasing cost of daily life, the President has remained detached from the hardships confronting Filipinos,” she said.

“It has weaponized the justice system by filing cases against and imprisoning individuals who dare speak out against alleged corruption and abuses in Malacañang, question the administration’s competence or criticizing the President, including allegations concerning his drug use,” she added. “Such actions raise serious concerns about the state of free expression, democratic accountability and the shrinking space for legitimate political dissent.”

According to Duterte, the President’s “failures of character and leadership” have fostered an increasingly oppressive political environment.

“A government that answers criticism with intimidation undermines the very democratic institutions it is sworn to protect. This is no longer a matter of politics. It is a matter of the honor of the State and a future of a people who continue to bear the weight of economic hardship while their voices are increasingly met with repression,” she said.

Senators also weighed in

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, for his part, urged the INC rallyists on Edsa to follow the law, be orderly in their demonstration and keep the peace amid reports of disorderly behavior causing traffic along Edsa and blocking the Edsa Carousel bus lane.

“To those joining the rally, we respect your views. In return, please respect public order and those enforcing it,” Gatchalian said.

Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, meanwhile, appealed to law enforcers to exercise maximum tolerance toward the rallyists.

“I appeal to our law enforcers: not only maximum tolerance, but respect the right to peaceful assembly and peaceful protest. What we are asking is that the Constitution be followed. That is why we are calling for a peaceful protest,” Cayetano said during a Facebook Live broadcast.

Cayetano also expressed support for the INC rally in response to the ombudsman’s plan to file plunder and indirect bribery charges against Marcoleta.

“Let our voices be heard. Now, if you cannot go to EDSA but have a small community, gather there – 10, 20 or 30 people. Post it on social media. Why is this important? Because every action has a reaction,” he said.

“I apologize to those caught in traffic, but protests are meant to inconvenience people so the public will wake up to what is happening,” he added in a separate statement.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson, meanwhile, called out Marcoleta’s “gaslighting” remarks that the government is planning to have him arrested for his plunder and bribery case over his P75-million undeclared campaign donation to prevent him from participating in Duterte’s impeachment trial.

“It’s gaslighting time once more. The mention of nine senators being possibly incarcerated was a hypothetical statement in the context of determining the base number to compute the constitutional requirement of 2/3 vote of all senators actively participating or not in the impeachment trial,” Lacson said. — Marc Jayson Cayabyab, Mark Ernest Villeza, Bella Cariaso