A text message making the rounds on social media, supposedly carrying instructions from the leadership of the Iglesia Ni Cristo, is a fabrication, the religious group said, stressing that the advisory did not originate from its Pamamahala.
The bogus message, formatted as an official “tagubilin,” tells recipients that some members may already head home to rest and prepare for what it describes as a continuation of a peaceful gathering the following day. It also directs local units to submit reports to their respective districts and to heed only official announcements. In its clarification, the INC urged the public not to believe or forward the material, advising members and others to rely solely on the church’s official channels for verified information.
The warning surfaced as thousands of INC members massed across parts of Metro Manila on Tuesday, June 30, in a surprise protest tied to embattled Senator Rodante Marcoleta. The crowd converged near the People Power Monument along EDSA in Quezon City, with police estimating around 12,000 participants by early afternoon, according to Rappler. A separate group assembled at Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila.
Authorities said the gathering proceeded without a permit. National Capital Region Police Office chief Anthony Aberin confirmed to Philstar.com that organizers had not secured the necessary clearance, while the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said it received no prior coordination from the group. The Department of the Interior and Local Government directed the Philippine National Police to apply maximum tolerance and to manage traffic and security so the activity would stay orderly.
INC spokesperson Edwil Zabala framed the mobilization as a stand for Marcoleta, a church member facing a looming plunder complaint before the Sandiganbayan over campaign donations from the 2025 elections. Zabala said the church does not oppose the enforcement of laws but objects to what he called the bending of the law, particularly if the aim is to shield wrongdoing. Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla announced on June 29 that his office would file the plunder case this week against Marcoleta and former congressman Mike Defensor.
The senator reported spending P112 million on his 2025 campaign yet declared no contributions in his filings with the Commission on Elections, even as his stated net worth stood at P51 million, Rappler reported. He later acknowledged receiving P75 million in donations but maintained the funds came in before the official campaign period, arguing he was not obligated to disclose them at that stage.
Over 5,900 police officers and allied personnel were deployed across key points in Metro Manila by mid-morning, with the PNP raising full alert status over several regional offices and Camp Crame-based units. The deployment underscored the scale of an event the church mounted without advance notice to local authorities, who said even the Quezon City police had not been informed beforehand.
