MMDA Relaxes EDSA Traffic Restrictions Amid Iglesia ni Cristo Rally

MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has repositioned its concrete barriers along the northbound side of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (Edsa) and opened one more lane in the area where the unannounced Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) protest rally is being held. MMDA personnel were seen late Tuesday night using a forklift to move the concrete barriers, particularly in the area between the Edsa-Ortigas flyover and the service road, up to Gate 4 of Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo. The concrete barriers were repositioned to separate foot traffic from the INC rally and vehicular traffic in the area. The repositioning of the concrete barriers opens three lanes of Edsa, including the bus lane, which was temporarily opened for private vehicles. As of 11 p.m., several rally participants were seen leaving the rally venue along White Plains Avenue. However, many protesters also appeared to be staying the night, as they set up tents and sleeping mats. Thousands of individuals gathered around the Edsa People Power Monument on Tuesday morning, leading to the closure of White Plains Avenue, and the closure of the northbound side of Edsa Ortigas Service Road, Edsa Ortigas Flyover, and southbound side of Edsa Ortigas Flyover. The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) estimated the crowd at around 7,000 as of 6:45 a.m., according to QCPD spokesperson Police Maj. Jennifer Gannaban. Many of the participants in the rally were seen wearing shirts from INC’s National Rally for Peace in January 2025 and its Rally for Transparency and Accountability in November 2025. READ: At least 7,000 gather at People Power Monument on June 30 Later in the day, INC came out with a statement saying that they are in support of Senator Rodante Marcoleta, who may be charged with plunder, adding that they reject “selective justice” and the “distortion of law.” Marcoleta is a member of the said church. “The Iglesia ni Cristo supports what Senator Marcoleta stands for because it is also our position. We call for transparency, accountability, justice, and peace,” INC spokesperson Bro. Edwil Zabala said in Filipino in a Net 25 livestream. READ: INC airs support for Marcoleta, hits ‘selective justice’ The possible plunder case against Marcoleta was floated after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said that the Senator will be charged within this week, in connection with his having campaign donations worth P75 million. In January 2025, former lawmaker Michael Defensor and businessmen Joseph Espiritu and Aristotle Viray allegedly donated P30 million, P25 million, and P20 million for Marcoleta’s senatorial bid, according to the complaint. READ: Ombudsman: Plunder raps to be filed vs Marcoleta in Sandiganbayan According to his counter-affidavit, Marcoleta noted that the P75 million donations were not public funds, the donated funds exceeding the P50 million threshold for plunder under Republic Act (RA) 7080 notwithstanding. State prosecutors also noted that the amount was not reflected in his statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN) as of June 30, 2025. Instead, the complaint noted that Marcoleta only declared P39.6 million in his SALN, which he said he acquired from 1992 to June 30, 2025. In his December 2025 SALN, the complaint said that Marcoleta declared only cash and savings totaling P16.7 million. The INC’s rally will continue into Wednesday, as the religious sect was able to obtain a permit from the Quezon City local government unit. According to a copy of the permit sent to the Inquirer, the Quezon City Department of Public Order and Safety said it had no objection to the organizer’s proposal to hold a rally along White Plains Avenue from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 1. The organizer named on the permit is INC Minister Eraño Codera, reportedly a key figure in the religious sect, who was represented by a lawyer who submitted the proposal letter. /cb