QC gov't: INC sought 4-day rally permit, approved only for July 1 so far

MANILA, Philippines — The Quezon City Department of Public Order and Safety (DPOS) explained that the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) originally requested a permit to hold a rally until Friday, July 3, but the local government only gave them until Wednesday, July 1, for now.

“A day at a time,” DPOS chief Elmo San Diego told reporters in an interview at the People Power Monument as the INC rally kicked off its second day on Wednesday.

“Their request is to rally for four days… Yesterday was irrelevant because there was no permit and they rallied. We were warning them that, if you repeat that, it’s not allowed. That’s why they were forced to submit a request for a rally permit,” San Diego noted.

Article continues after this advertisement

READ: INC Edsa-White Plains rally enters 2nd day

FEATURED STORIES

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

NEWSINFO

The INC mounted the rally early Tuesday morning, apparently catching authorities off guard, in support of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, who is facing an impending plunder case for a P75-million donation to him when he was a congressman before his 2025 senatorial bid.

The Tuesday rally had no permit and disrupted traffic flow along Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (Edsa) during the morning rush hour, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Nonetheless, the Quezon City DPOS granted the INC a permit to hold an assembly under the condition that it be held from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. along White Plains Avenue on Wednesday.

“We will see if the progress of the rally is good. If I think we can still secure it, we will extend it if necessary because, if it’s too much, there’s a bit of a problem with security and public safety,” San Diego explained.

Article continues after this advertisement

As for the June 30 “permitless” rally, he said, “It’s water under the bridge… It’s good that they asked for permission [now] so that we can talk to them… It’s better. We can go around more freely. We have elbow room so that we can adjust to people, talk to them.”

Embed:

Earlier on Wednesday, after hours of talks with the PNP, the INC rally organizers moved back into White Plains Avenue the buses that carried rallyists and blocked a portion of Edsa northbound.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.

Your subscription has been successful.

The buses remained parked along White Plains Avenue.

But, San Diego said, if the INC again applies for a permit to hold a rally on Thursday, the DPOS may demand that the buses be moved further back to free up some lanes along White Plains Avenue. /mr