Iglesia ni Cristo protesters intend to occupy EDSA until Monday

Published August 28, 2015 11:55pm

(Updated August 29, 9:02 a.m.) Protesters from the Iglesia ni Cristo that massed on EDSA on Friday afternoon intend to occupy the thoroughfare until Monday.

GMA News' Mariz Umali reported this development on "Saksi" as members of the church continued to mass up, rendering the northbound lane of EDSA-Ortigas impassable to vehicles.

According to the Eastern Police District, the crowd on Shaw Boulevard was estimated at 2,500 at around 2 a.m.

Protesters have occupied EDSA despite the lack of a rally permit from the Quezon City government.

The mass action began on Thursday in Manila, where thousands of members of the politically influential religious group spoke out against what they called Justice Secretary Leila de Lima's meddling in the group's internal affairs.

The DOJ is looking into charges filed by former Iglesia ni Cristo minister Isaias Samson Jr. against the religious group's officials for allegedly detaining and harassing him and his family — an accusation denied by Iglesia ni Cristo officials.

The protest moved to EDSA on Friday afternoon, with those who attended the protest in Manila marching to meet other members at the EDSA-Shaw intersection.

Defending religious freedom

A statement from the church, read during the report, said that Iglesia ni Cristo is merely defending religious freedom.

"Wala pong hangarin ang Iglesia ni Cristo na ipakita na higit siyang mataas sa estado kundi iginigiit lamang ang kanyang kalayaan o religious freedom at karapatan na ipagtanggol ang sarili laban sa anumang panggigipit at pagsikil sa karapatan, lalo na ng gobyerno, o ng mga nasa gobyerno," it said.

The church's spokesman Edwil Zabala clarified an earlier report, saying that they were not calling for De Lima's resignation. Instead, he said, they merely want her to perform her duties properly.

In Malacañang, Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma said the government was not meddling in the affairs of the Iglesia ni Cristo but is only making sure the country's laws are followed.

"Government's duty is to ensure that the laws of the land are complied with and does not wish to interfere in the internal affairs of any legitimate organization," Coloma said.

Traffic gridlock

As the protest continued, heavy to standstill traffic prevailed in the vicinity of the EDSA Shrine, two nearby malls and until Shaw Boulevard. Traffic remained heavy near the protest sites early Saturday morning.

The EDSA-Shaw Boulevard service roads remained impassable Saturday morning, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said.

The EDSA-Shaw underpass is open on Saturday morning, however, although traffic on the southbound lanes are slow, radio dzBB said.

Further complicating the traffic situation was the long weekend sale at one of the malls, leaving many motorists and commuters irate.

In response to this, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas said that while the government recognizes the Iglesia ni Cristo's right to protest, he said that this cannot trample on the rights of others.

"While all citizens have the right to be heard and to peaceful assembly, the exercise of these rights cannot impinge on the rights of others or cause inconvenience to anyone," he said.

"Lalo na 'yung mga kababayan nating pauwi sa kanilang mga tahanan para magpahinga at makasama ang kanilang mga pamilya."

He added that "preserving peace and order with maximum tolerance will be practiced by all responding policemen."

"The [Philippine National Police] is duty-bound to ensure the safety and general welfare of the public is maintained, both those protesting and those uninvolved," Roxas said.

He also said, "This includes making sure opportunists do not try to take advantage of the situation for personal ends. Let us remember that ours is a Rule of Law and not of men."

Show of force

Political analyst Antonio La Viña earlier on Friday described the mass action as a show of force for the church.

“It's a show of force... Wala naman silang magagawa para itapon ang gobyerno. Hindi rin nila mapapaalis si Secretary de Lima. Pero warning 'yan sa lahat ng politicians kanino ba kayo papanig,” said La Viña, the dean of the Ateneo School of Governance.

Meanwhile, political analyst Popoy de Vera said there was nothing new with what the Iglesia is doing.

“It's a democratic mechanism. Siguro kaya nababahala ang iba dahil may reputasyon ang Iglesia ni Cristo na marami sila,” he said.

The Iglesia ni Cristo is known to be influential especially during the election period with their block voting system.

According to an SWS survey, 70 to 80 percent of Iglesia ni Cristo members vote for whoever church leaders endorse.

President Benigno Aquino III and his predecessors Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Joseph Ejercito Estrada were all endorsed by the church. —Jonathan de Santos/JST/KG, GMA News

Tags: iglesianicristo, iglesianicristoabductions