Metro Manila, Philippines – Thousands of security personnel have been deployed at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila for a religious gathering on Monday, Jan. 13, essentially to back embattled Vice President Sara Duterte.
Authorities said they expect up to one million attendees at the Iglesia ni Cristo “National Rally for Peace,” where its members would oppose moves to unseat the vice president.
The group would presumably premise its position on a previous statement of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that impeachment proceedings against Duterte would not help Filipinos.
In a statement on Sunday, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said the deployment will involve two teams from the army’s 525th Engineer Combat Battalion, more than 4,400 police officers, and 1,200 personnel from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
The MMDA also set up a mobile command center along Kalaw Avenue.
“Maliban po do’n sa mga ibang regions na magkakaroon ng INC rally,” Philippine National Police chief PGen Rommel Marbil told reporters on Sunday, Jan. 12.
[Translation: This is aside from those deployed in the regions where an INC rally would also be conducted.]
PBGen Jean Fajardo, PNP spokesperson, also told reporters that Metro Manila police were ready since Sunday as INC members began arriving from nearby regions.
“Inaasahan natin na hindi lang ‘yong tao ang babantayan, especially maayos na daloy ng trapiko ina-anticipate natin na may mga buses na gagamitin ng INC para i-transport ang kanilang miyembro,” she said.
[Translation: We expect that we will not only monitor people but also the traffic since we anticipate that the INC will use buses to transport its members.]
George Keyser, OCD National Capital Region director, said parking areas from Anda Circle to Roxas Boulevard quickly filled up by Sunday afternoon.
Some groups and lawmakers said the INC event would “shield” the vice president from allegations of fund misuse and the impeachment proceedings against her.
Marcos suspended classes and government work in Manila and Pasay. Quezon City was the third city in Metro Manila to have the same declaration.
The Senate, which is based in Pasay, has also canceled work on Monday, the first day of resumption of session, to give way to the event.
Cagayan de Oro and Davao local officials also announced a suspension of classes and government work as local gatherings will occur in their areas. Road closures have also been implemented.
