No plans to disperse INC rally yet even without permit – NCRPO

MANILA, Philippines — The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Tuesday said it has no plans to disperse the sudden protest rally organized by the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) along Edsa in Quezon City yet, despite the group’s lack of a permit.

This is as NCRPO spokesperson Maj. Hazel Asilo told reporters on the sidelines of the rally that authorities are still in talks with the INC about the gathering.

This also means the NCRPO itself does not know when the INC will end the gathering.

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READ: PNP says INC Edsa rally crowd reaches over 12,000

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“For now, their continued stay along EDSA and White Plains Avenue will depend on the outcome of the discussions between the leadership of the PNP and DILG (Philippine National Police and the Department of the Interior and Local Government) as well as the INC,” said Asilo in a chance interview with reporters.

“Discussions are still ongoing on what compromises can be reached, how or when the protest will end, and whether they will obtain the necessary permit to allow the gathering to continue,” she added.

Asilo then maintained that the gathering has yet to be dispersed amid orders from the PNP and DILG to let the INC go through with their rally.

She also refuted criticisms that the police response had been “weak” in addressing the protest, explaining that they cannot just disperse the rally when it is already ongoing.

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Asilo also stressed that the NCRPO is neither favoring nor targeting any group and is merely awaiting orders from higher authorities on whether the demonstrators should be dispersed.

All that being said, Asilo clarified that dispersal remains an option for the NCRPO, depending on orders from the DILG and PNP.

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“That is one of the options being considered, but the INC, the PNP, and the DILG are still in discussions,” she said.

Asked what scenario would trigger dispersal, Asilo responded: “If we know that a disturbance has broken out, like what happened earlier when people were pushing one another and some were getting hurt.”

The INC held the sudden rally in support of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, who is set to be charged with a non-bailable case of plunder in the Sandiganbayan this week.

Around 12,000 INC members were then estimated to have joined the rally as of 1 p.m. /das

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