Batangas residents who camped at Liwasang Bonifacio join INC Edsa rally

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MANILA, Philippines — Residents from the first district of Batangas who spent the night at Liwasang Bonifacio traveled to Edsa on Wednesday to join the second day of the rally organized by members of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC).

Barangay Bilaran Councilor Allan Tabanggay of Nasugbu, Batangas said around 500 private individuals from the province voluntarily joined the gathering in support of what the INC is advocating.

Authorities, however, estimated the crowd at Liwasang Bonifacio at around 230 as of 9 a.m.

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READ: PNP ‘apprised’ of INC rally plan

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“The call of our fellow Filipinos from Batangas is to address the corruption taking place within our government’s system,” Tabanggay told the Inquirer.

READ: Tindig Pilipinas hits INC rally backing Marcoleta

On Tuesday, the INC staged a surprise rally near the People Power Monument at the corner of White Plains Avenue, calling for transparency, accountability, justice, and peace.

In a statement, the religious group also expressed support for its high-profile member, Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, whom it endorsed in the last elections, and called the impending plunder case against him as a form of “selective justice.”

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Smaller groups also gathered at EDSA Shrine, the southbound corner of EDSA and Connecticut Street, and Liwasang Bonifacio.

At around 10:50 a.m. on Wednesday, residents from Balayan, Nasugbu, and Lian boarded tourist buses bound for Edsa while others stayed at the freedom park, awaiting their turn.

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Asked whether the looming plunder case against Marcoleta also prompted their participation, Tabanggay said it was among the issues that brought them to the rally.

“It is saddening because instead of those who should be jailed, it is Sen. Marcoleta, who has been pushing to defend the rights of the people, who is being persecuted by the government,” he said.

Asked why they decided to join now instead of the previous anti-corruption rally dubbed as the White Ribbon Movement last June 28, Tabanggay said they were also part of it.

“In fact, some of our companions who are here today also took part in the White Ribbon movement,” the councilor said.

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“As long as the call remains unmet, so long as our brothers and sisters in the Church have not achieved what they are fighting for, we will continue to remain here at Liwasang Bonifacio,” Tabanggay stressed. /mr