Iglesia ni Cristo members camp out ahead of peace rally

Several members of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) camped out in their tents, while others laid out blankets to sleep on at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila on Sunday night ahead of the peace rally on Monday.

Some of them came from provinces in nearby regions, spending at least six hours on the road to take part in the INC-led nationwide peace rally on Monday afternoon.

“Ganito kami ka-full force kasi gusto namin maiparating sa ating pamahalaan na kailangan magkaisa po tayo lahat. Para makamit natin ‘yung mga hinihingi natin para sa ating mamamayan,” INC member and teacher Aaron Suba said.

(We’re full force because we want to communicate to our government the need for all of us to unite to achieve the things we’re seeking for our countrymen.)

Wilson Sabat, a tricycle driver and INC member from Tarlac, said they are not taking sides in ongoing political feuds.

Instead, he said: “Basta ang sa amin, uunahin ‘yung bansa natin. Ang dami nang naghihirap eh. Lalong lalo na, ang laki ng problema ng bansa natin. Alam niyo ‘yan.”

(For us, we want our country to be top priority. Many people are struggling. The country is facing big problems. You know what I mean.)

In a statement, the INC said the rally is to express support for the stance of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., who is against impeachment bids against Vice President Sara Duterte.

A slew of other relevant issues, according to the INC, should be prioritized and will not be solved by clashes.

"Pabor po kami sa sinabi ng ating Pangulong Bongbong Marcos na hindi po dapat asikasuhin or unahin, i-prioritize ‘yung impeachement. Maraming dapat asikasuhin. Napakaraming problema nga po ng Pilipinas so dapat ‘yun na muna ang unahin natin,” student and INC member Leovidar Tayag said.

(We agree with what President Bongbong Marcos said that the impeachment should not be prioritized. There are many things that need to be addressed. The Philippines is plagued with so many problems that need to come first.)

Malacañang expressed hope Monday that the INC National Rally for Peace would bring clarity to the issues that the country faces at present.

In a statement, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said that to peaceably assemble is a “bedrock right,” which is guaranteed by the 1987 Constitution, cherished by the people, and consistently upheld by the Marcos administration.

“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,” he said. 

The program for the National Rally for Peace will start 4 p.m. It is expected to end around 6 p.m.

The Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and the Metro Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council are on red alert for the peace rally.

A red alert means that all DRRMO and MMDRRMC personnel must be on duty around the clock to respond to emergencies.

Aside from the Quirino Grandstand, peace rallies will also be simultaneously held in 12 other areas across the country.

Around 1 million people are expected to troop to the INC-led nationwide peace rally.

Thousands of police officers are deployed in and around the Quirino Grandstand to secure the peace rally. —KG, GMA Integrated News