Solon urges people to join Edsa rally, says it’s not for one group only

MANILA, Philippines — Batangas Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste has called on Filipinos to troop to the EDSA People Power Monument since the protest action there is not for any particular group.

In a statement on Tuesday, Leviste said that the rally, purportedly staged by Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), is for the sake of the Filipino people.

“Everyone is invited today to the EDSA People Power Monument.  This is not for one group.  This is for all Filipinos,” Leviste said in a post on his official Facebook page.

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Earlier, thousands of individuals gathered at the Edsa People Power Monument, particularly the area near White Plains Avenue, leading to road closures and heavy traffic.

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The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) estimated the crowd at around 7,000 as of 6:45 a.m., according to QCPD spokesperson Maj. Jennifer Gannaban.

Many of the participants in the rally were seen wearing shirts from INC’s National Rally for Peace in January 2025 and its Rally for Transparency and Accountability last November 2025.

READ: At least 7,000 gather at People Power Monument on June 30

Eventually, INC issued a statement saying it supports Senator Rodante Marcoleta, who may be charged with plunder, and that it rejects “selective justice” and the “distortion of law.”

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“The Iglesia ni Cristo supports what Senator Marcoleta stands for because it is also our position. We call for transparency, accountability, justice, and peace,” INC Spokesperson Bro. Edwil Zabala said in Filipino in a Net 25 livestream.

READ: INC airs support for Marcoleta, hits ‘selective justice’

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The possible plunder case against Marcoleta was floated after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said that the senator will be charged this week, in connection with the P75 million campaign contributions issue.

READ: Ombudsman: Plunder raps to be filed vs Marcoleta in Sandiganbayan

In his counter-affidavit, Marcoleta noted that the P75 million donation was not public funds, even though the donated funds exceeded the P50 million threshold for plunder under Republic Act (RA) 7080.

State prosecutors also noted that the amount was not reflected in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) as of June 30, 2025.

Instead, the complaint noted that Marcoleta only declared P39.6 million in his SALN, which he said he acquired from 1992 to June 30, 2025.

In his December 2025 SALN, the complaint said that Marcoleta declared only cash and savings totaling P16.7 million.

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In a separate Facebook post on Monday night, Leviste questioned the alleged focus on Marcoleta when other politicians benefited from contractors doing anomalous infrastructure projects. /gsg