Palace sees no threat in INC rally despite heightened security

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang said the rally staged by members of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) on Tuesday does not pose a threat to the Marcos administration.

The gathering, which began early in the day at the People Power Monument on Edsa and at Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila, was in support of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta.

The senator is set to face a non-bailable plunder case before the Sandiganbayan.

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“There is no perceived threat because the president knows that what he is doing is for the people,” said Palace press officer Claire Castro at a briefing.

“So, if there are only other interests or the interests of certain groups, the interests of a few people, they should not be an obstacle to the president and this administration’s implementation of the law,” she added.

Beginning 6 a.m., stricter security measures were implemented in Malacañang. Gates leading to the Malacañang compound were closed and barricaded, and personnel from offices inside were also advised to go home before noon.

According to Castro, the president continuously monitors the situation inside the compound, and the security measures in place are meant only to protect those inside.

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“We don’t know if anything will happen here, if someone will come in or whatever. So this is the Office of our President, and we also need to protect it — regardless of any rally, whether small or big, we must protect it. This is part of security,” she said.

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Hundreds of individuals gathered for a mass action at Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila around 7 a.m., approximately 5 kilometers away from Malacañang.

As of 4:30 p.m., no untoward incident had been reported inside the compound.

Meanwhile, a total of 12,030 participants were seen at the rally at the People Power Monument, according to data from the Philippine National Police as of 2 p.m. /das

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