Iglesia Ni Cristo families, students, workers flock to EDSA rally backing Marcoleta

Some members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) travelled all the way from outside Metro Manila with their families to join the massive protest at the EDSA People Power Monument in Quezon City, calling for accountability from those involved in corruption.

According to Marisol Abdurahman’s report in “24 Oras” on Tuesday, the protest site seemingly became a picnic for some families. For instance, Rose Marie Lalamunan arrived with her loved ones from Cavite.

“Nandito po kami para hindi lang po ipaglaban yung katotohanan,” said Rose Marie.

“Para amin pong maipadama sa kapatid na Rodante Marcoleta na hindi lang siya nag-iisang lumalaban sa hamon ng buhay o sa mga ganitong pangyayari,” she added.

(This is also to make our brother, Rodante Marcoleta, feel that he is not alone in fighting life's challenges or facing these kinds of situations.)

Meanwhile, some students did not mind the long walk amid the traffic just to participate in the protest.

“Naglakad pa po kami dito ng mahigit isang oras, para lang makarating dito bilang pakikiisa po. Tapos isa din po, para managot yung dapat managot,” said senior high school student Rhonifer Indoc.

(We even walked for over an hour just to get here in solidarity. And another thing is, we want those responsible to be held accountable.)

On the other hand, some protesters took leave from their work to join the protest.

“Sobra na yung panggigipit ng gobyerno sa mamamayang Pilipino,” one said.

(The government’s harassment of the Filipino people has become too much.)

“Nakikiisa kami sa gawain ng Iglesia Ni Cristo. Gusto po namin na maging transparent yung gobyerno, na huwag baluktutin yung batas,” another protester said.

(We are standing in solidarity with the work of the Iglesia Ni Cristo. We want the government to be transparent, and to stop twisting the law.)

Some sought shade under the trees, while others had already fallen asleep, with most of them having to endure hunger at the site.

Chaos then erupted along the southbound lane just before 2:00 PM.

As of 3:00 PM, the number of protesters reached 13,000, occupying the entirety of White Plains Avenue up to EDSA. As a result, only a single lane remained open on both the northbound and southbound lanes of EDSA.

A section of EDSA turned into a virtual parking lot as there was little to no movement of vehicles traversing the southbound lane.

Several personalities also joined the rally, including former congressman Mike Defensor, who addressed the Ombudsman's plan to file plunder charges against him alongside Marcoleta.

“Hindi ako magtatago. Noon pa, hindi ako nagta