1.8M INC members join rally for peace, govt unity

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THE religious group Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) yesterday called for peace and unity in the country amid the prevailing political turmoil and the fragmented relations between President Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte.

The PNP estimated that INC’s simultaneous “National Rally for Peace” assemblies across the country were attended by at least 1.8 million members, including the 1.58 million crowd that gathered at the Quirino Grandstand in the city of Manila.

PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said no untoward incident was reported in relation to the peace rallies, which she described as “peaceful.”

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Aside from the one held at the Quirino Grandstand, rallies were also held in 12 other venues across the country – at the Ilagan Sports Complex in Isabela, Sawangan Park in Albay, Plaza Divisoria in Cagayan de Oro City, Quirino Stadium in Ilocos Sur, Rizal Park in Davao City, and Cebu South Road Properties in Cebu City.

Peace rallies were also organized at the Don Pedro Vicente Park in Puerto Princesa City, Capitol Park and Lagoon in Bacolod City, Pagadian City Proper in Zamboanga del Sur, Iloilo New Freedom Grandstand in Iloilo City, Butuan City Sports Complex in Butuan City, and Ormoc City Stage in Ormoc City.

Fajardo, citing information from the INC Medical Service, said 1,162 members were treated for various issues at health stations set up by the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and INC field hospitals.

Fajardo said some 5,500 policemen were deployed in the vicinity of the Quirino Grandstand to secure the rally.

Clad mostly in white shirts bearing the words “National Rally for Peace,” INC members from different walks of life and various parts of Luzon trooped to the grandstand as early as 6 a.m. for the program set from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

INC spokesman Edwil Zabala said the event was meant to promote peace and unity and was not aimed at pushing for any political interests.

“There are many more things which our citizens need that must be attended to. These will not be achieved if all we see taking place is conflict,” Zabala said.

“Perhaps our countrymen, who also desire peace and want our leaders to take care of the needs of our nation, will not contradict the opinion given by President Marcos Jr.,” he also said.

In a social media post, the INC said: “Joyful cheers echo across the nation as united crowds come together with one message: Panawagan sa pamahalaan: Magkaisa para tumatag ang bansa (Appeal to the government: Unity to strengthen the country).”

The post also said: “Unity for the Philippines is our stand.”

Last December, the INC leadership announced its plan to hold the prayer rally to express the group’s strong opposition to moves to impeach the Vice President.

“Ang mga kapatid sa Iglesia ay naghahanda na magsagawa ng rally upang ipahayag sa lahat ng kinauukulan na ang Iglesia ni Cristo ay pabor sa opinion ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos na hindi sumang-ayon sa isinusulong ng ilang sektor na impeachment (Our Iglesia brothers and sisters will hold a rally to express our support to President Bongbong Marcos’ position opposing the impeachment moves [against Vice President Duterte],” the INC then said in a statement.

But while the INC said the event was apolitical, it was attended by some political personalities, including Senators Robin Padilla, Ronald dela Rosa, and Francis Tolentino, SAGIP party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, and former Manila mayor Isko Moreno, among others.

After the event, members of the INC helped in immediately cleaning the venues, where the peace rallies were held.

VP SARA: THANK YOU

Duterte, who returned to the country after a weekend trip to Japan, thanked the INC for holding the peace rally, saying what the religious group did was “a powerful show of unity and faith.”

“Taos-puso akong bumabati sa lahat ng lumahok sa malawakang peace rally ngayong araw. Ito ay isang makapangyarihang pagpapakita ng pagkakaisa at pananampalataya na ang tanging hangad lamang ay kapayapaan tungo sa kaunlaran ng ating bansa (I sincerely greet all those who participated in the large peace rally today. This is a powerful manifestation of their unity and faith, the only aim of which is peace towards our nation’s progress),” Duterte said in a recorded video.

The second highest elected official of the land is facing three impeachment complaints at the House of Representatives over her alleged misuse of hundreds of millions of confidential funds in both the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education when she was the concurrent education secretary.

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“Nagpapasalamat ako sa ating mga kapatid sa Iglesia ni Cristo sa inyong patuloy na pagsisikap na maghatid ng pagkakaunawaan at pagkakaisa sa ating mga kababayan (I thank our brothers and sisters in the Iglesia ni Cristo for continuing to strive for mutual understanding and unity of our people),” the Vice President said.

“Sa gitna ng tumataas na presyo ng bilihin, kahirapan, at iba pang suliranin, ang isang mapayapa at nagkakaisang Pilipinas ay hindi kailanman matitinag, at paulit-ulit na aahon sa gitna ng hamon ng panahon (Amid the rising prices of basic commodities, poverty and other problems, a peaceful and united Philippines will never be deterred and will repeatedly rise in the middle of the challenges of time),” she added.

Various groups led by Akbayan party-list, the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) and a group of priests and lawyers filed the three impeachment complaints against the Vice President last month.

The first impeachment complaint, which was filed on December 2 by civil society and religious organizations led by Akbayan party-list, accused Duterte of culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, bribery, betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes.

The second complaint was filed just two days later by 72 individuals led by Bayan, which cited only one ground — betrayal of public trust, while the third complaint was filed on December 19 by religious groups and lawyers who also accused Duterte of willfully misusing public funds by fabricating the recipients of a total of P612.5 million in confidential funds disbursed by the OVP and the DepEd.

The third complaint, which was endorsed by Reps. Gabriel Bordado Jr. of Camarines Sur and Lex Colada (PL, AAMBIS-OWA), who are both members of the House minority bloc, accused the Vice President of culpable violation of the Constitution, bribery, graft and corruption, and betrayal of public trust.

HEAVY TRAFFIC

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said it monitored heavy traffic in the Quiapo area as the INC staged a rally at the grandstand.

MMDA chairperson Romando Artes said its Command and Communication Center in Pasig City conducted round-the-clock monitoring focused on Manila and Pasay cities.

“Base sa traffic monitoring, mabigat na ang daloy ng trapiko sa bandang Quiapo, Manila dahil sa mga nakaparadang sasakyan ng mga nakiisa sa aktibidad sa lugar (Based on our traffic monitoring, there was heavy traffic problem in areas near Quiapo in Manila due to parked vehicles of those participating in the rally),” Artes said yesterday morning.

He said that they did not monitor any untoward incident.

Artes said the MMDA deployed around 1,300 personnel to manage the traffic flow in the metropolis yesterday.

PEACEFUL RALLY

Yesterday morning, PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil said the PNP was “fully prepared to ensure that the National Rally for Peace will proceed safely and peacefully.”

“We are committed to safeguarding the rights of the participants to assemble while maintaining peace and order. Our officers are trained to act promptly on any contingency, and we will apply the same precision and diligence that led to the smooth conduct of the Traslacion,” said Marbil.

“The PNP’s mission is clear: to uphold public safety while respecting the participants’ right to peaceful assembly. We are one with the INC in its call for peace and stability,” he said.

AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said the military deployed personnel from the AFP Joint Task Force National Capital Region to help secure the rallies.

“In support of the Philippine National Police, the AFP has deployed additional security forces to help secure the event,” Fajardo said, adding that at the Quirino Grandstand, the JTF-NCR stationed Civil Disturbance Management teams, with additional units on standby for any contingencies.

Nationwide, Padilla said AFP units worked alongside the PNP “to ensure a peaceful and orderly activity.”

“As protectors of the people and defenders of the Constitution, the AFP upholds and protects the constitutional rights of freedom of speech, expression, and assembly, recognizing these as cornerstones of a vibrant democracy,” said Padilla.

CONSENSUS

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, in a statement, said there was no doubt that the peace rally was peaceful, orderly and meaningful.

“We view today’s assemblies as part of the national conversation we should be having as a people to bring clarity and consensus on issues that face us all and affect our future,” Bersamin said.

He likewise said that to peaceably assemble is a “bedrock right” that is “guaranteed by the 1987 Constitution, cherished by the people, and consistently upheld by the Marcos administration.”

Senate President Francis Escudero described the peace rally as “timely.” “Who wouldn’t want that? I surely want that, (a) huge majority of our people, as well, whether they are physically present at the prayer rally today or not, are demanding for nothing less among our leaders at the very least,” Escudero said in a Viber message to the media.

He said questions and issues that seek to “diminish a much-needed call for peace and unity in our country at this time” are needed.

Tolentino, in a chance interview at the Quirino Grandstand, said he attended the peace rally to show support to the INC on its call for peace and unity.

“Ang tema ngayon ay kapayapaan at pagkaka-isa, walang politika. Kaya ang aking pagdalo rito ay para sa pagkaka-isa at malawakang pagkakaunawaan ng lahat ng ating mga kababayan kahit na anong Partido ang kinagagalawan, kahit ano po ang saloobin. Tama ang panawagan ng Iglesia ni Cristo na isa lamang ang bandila ng Pilipinas (Today’s theme is about peace and unity, no politics. That’s why my attendance here is for unity and understanding for all our countrymen no matter what political party they belong to, and opinion. The Iglesia ni Cristo is right in saying that the Philippines only has one flag),” Tolentino said.

Sen. Christopher Go said he fully supports the INC’s call for peace and unity.

“Isang pagpupugay sa ating mga kapatid mula sa Iglesia ni Cristo sa pangunguna ni Kapatid na Eduardo V. Manalo sa napakahalagang pagkakataong maihayag ang ating pagpapahalaga sa kapayapaan at pagkaka-isa ng buong sambayanan (I laud the Iglesia ni Cristo headed by Eduardo V. Manalo for this timely move to value peace and unity of the country),” Go said in a statement.

He also said: “Ang peace rally ng Iglesia ni Cristo ay hindi lamang po para sa mga miyembro nito kundi para sa lahat ng Pilipino na nagnanais ng kapayapaan. Kaisa ninyo ako sa hangaring ito bilang inyong senador na nais lamang maipagpatuloy ang malasakit at pagseserbisyo sa mga kapwa Pilipino (The Iglesia ni Cristo’s peace rally is not only meant for its members, but for all Filipinos who want peace. I am one with their goal of achieving the continuous service and compassion to our countrymen),” he said. – With Wendell Vigilia, Ashzel Hachero, Jocelyn Montemayor and Raymond Africa

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