Any breach of the law during public assemblies will be investigated and those responsible held accountable, Malacañang warned Tuesday, June 30, as it responded to a large gathering of Iglesia ni Cristo members that snarled traffic along EDSA in Quezon City.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro framed the government’s stance around a single question during her briefing: “Kung tayo po ay humihiling na ipatupad natin ang batas, hindi po ba dapat tayo din ay tumutupad sa batas?” She emphasized that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was not standing in the way of the demonstrators’ right to assemble, provided they stayed within legal bounds.
“Hindi kayo pinipigilan sa anumang kilos na ginagawa niyo, provided that your action should be in accordance with the law,” Castro said. “So kung meron po tayong makikita ngayon na violation ng anumang batas, ito po ay iimbestigahan at kung kailangan na managot… ay kailangan din pong managot.”
The Palace pointed to the everyday cost of an uncoordinated protest. Castro said the closures would ripple outward to workers, students, and patients being rushed to hospitals by ambulance along the affected route. “Magkakaroon po ito ng impact sa bawat tao, sa bawat trabahador, sa bawat estudyante, sa bawat pasyente na nakasakay sa ambulansya na dadaan sana sa EDSA. Lahat ng ito, pati tayo rito, ay maaapektuhan,” she said. She added that the disruption carries economic weight, hitting businesses and anyone needing to reach school, work, or urgent medical care.
Castro underscored that organizers are expected to secure a permit and coordinate with authorities in advance, allowing the government to arrange measures such as alternate routes. “Alam po naman natin na kapag nagra-rally at gagamit po kayo ng kalsada ay dapat may permit at hindi po ito dapat na inililihim para naman po makapaghanda ang gobyerno,” she said.
The gathering forced the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority to shut down several arteries Tuesday morning after thousands of church members occupied the roadways near the People Power Monument. Affected stretches included the EDSA Ortigas Service Road northbound, the EDSA Ortigas Flyover in both directions, and White Plains Avenue in both directions. The closures remained in place as of 5:30 p.m., with commuters elsewhere along EDSA contending with sluggish traffic through much of the day.
Marcos scrapped his morning schedule to keep watch over the developing situation.
The demonstration was mounted to back Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, himself an Iglesia ni Cristo member, who is facing a looming plunder complaint tied to alleged irregularities in campaign contributions from the 2025 elections. Marcoleta and church members have characterized the non-bailable case as an attempt to muzzle the senator and halt his work exposing others.
