PNP: Around 1.8 million INC members join rallies nationwide

Around 1.8 million members of Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) joined peace rallies across the country as of Monday noon, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).

“As of 12 noon today, more or less ay nasa 1.8 million na po nationwide ang na-monitor natin na estimated crowd (As of 12 noon today, the estimated crowd was more or less 1.8 million nationwide),” PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo said in a press briefing.

“Ang bulk po niyan na more or less 1.5 million to close to 1.6 million po ay nasa Quirino Grandstand po ngayon (Bulk of that, which is more or less 1.5 million to close to 1.6 million, is now at the Quirino Grandstand),” she added.

According to Fajardo, the activity has been relatively peaceful and no untoward incidents have been reported so far.

This was echoed by Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna who said that they have yet to receive reports of any untoward incident and the peace rally has been orderly so far.

"Wala pa po tayong naitatala na kahit ano pong masamang kaganapan dito sa sinasagawang national rally for peace," Lacuña told repoters in an interview.

(There had been no reports of untoward incident so far.) 

"Maraming salamat sa ating mga kababayan na ating pinanawagan na mapanatili na mapayapa ang ating pagtitipon ngayon...Sa lahat ng ating kahandaan, maayos naman po," she said.

(We thanked the participants for heeding our call to keep the rally peaceful. So far, the event had been orderly.)

Malacañang earlier announced the suspension of government work and classes in all levels in Pasay and Manila in view of the peace rally. The Senate likewise suspended work due to the program. Some local government units have also suspended work and classes on January 13.   

The INC program started at 8 a.m. at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila and other sites in different regions, Fajardo said. She added that the key sites of the INC rallies in other regions are:

• Sports Complex in Ilagan City
• Provincial Capitol in Palawan
• Sawangan Park in Legazpi City 
• Freedom Grandstand in Bacolod City
• Ormoc City Plaza in Leyte 
• South Road Properties (SRP) Grounds in Cebu City
• Pagadian City Proper in Zamboanga del Sur
• Plaza Divisoria in Cagayan de Oro City
• San Pedro Square in Davao City
• Butuan Sport Complex in Agusan del Norte

Up to 8,000 PNP personnel have been deployed to secure the event, Fajardo said.

Malacañang on Monday expressed hope that the INC’s “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.

Call for unity, peace

INC members who were at Quirino Grandstand on Monday morning appealed for unity and peace amid the political rift in the country.

Vanessa Abela and Suzete Sibulo from Lucena, Quezon said they joined the rally with hopes that the country will find unity once more under the leadership of Marcos and Duterte.

“Nagkakagulo talaga. ‘Yung mga tao sa Kongreso, sa Senado, magulo sila. Gusto nilang paguluhin ang bansa,” Sibulo told GMA News Online.

(It’s chaotic now. The people in the Congress and Senate want to bring mess in the country.)  

Meanwhile, 16-year-old Ivan and Benedick from Bulacan believe that a “civil war” may happen if Duterte gets impeached.

“’Yung dalawang leader natin hindi nagkakasundo, kaya siguro po ayun ‘yung nagiging reason kaya nagkakagulo ang bansa natin,” Benedick said.

(Our top two leaders have a conflict. Maybe that’s the reason why the country is in disarray.)

The teenager also had a call for the President, saying, “Sana po hindi… ‘Wag niyang payagan na ma-impeach si Sara para hindi masyadong magkagulo ang bansa natin.”

(I hope he doesn’t allow Vice President Sara to get impeached so that there will be no disorder in the country.)

Ivan also underscored the importance of unity.

“Panawagan lang po namin nawa’y sana magkaisa tayong lahat para lalong pumayapa ang buong Pilipinas,” he said.

(We’re appealing to everyone to be united so that there will be more peace in the Philippines.)

Emma Flores, a 66-year-old woman from Valenzuela, arrived at Quirino Grandstand at 4:30 a.m. She said she also wants peace in the country.

“[Nandito kami] para sa pagkakaisa, sa pinaglalaban namin… ‘yung rally for peace, [na] magkaisa. Siyempre ayaw natin na magulo,” she said.

(We’re here to call for unity during our rally for peace. We don’t want chaos.)

Roy, who is on a wheelchair, went to Manila from Paniqui, Tarlac with his relatives and fellow INC members to also back the call of Marcos against impeachment moves against Duterte

“Nandito kami para po peace…Ayaw namin ng impeachment. Sinusuportahan namin ‘yung desisyon ng Pangulong Bongbong,” he said.

(We’re here for peace. We don’t want impeachment. We support the decision of President Bongbong.)

Three impeachment complaints have been filed so far against Duterte.

The Vice President earlier welcomed the filing of the complaints.

“So, okay din 'yung impeachment case dahil ako lang ang tinitira doon, ako lang iniimbestigahan noon. Ako lang ang inaatake ng impeachment case. Hindi na kasali ang nga kasamahan ko sa OVP and mga dati kong kasama sa DepEd. Masagot na ng final kung ano 'yung mga inaakusa nila sa akin,” Duterte said.

(So, it’s okay they filed an impeachment case since I’ll only be the one who's being attacked. I’ll only be the one who's being investigated. I’ll only be the one who is being attacked in the impeachment case. My staff in the Office of the Vice President and Department of Education will no longer be involved. I can finally answer what they are accusing me of.) —with Sundy Locus/AOL, GMA Integrated News