NCRPO: No need to disperse Iglesia ni Cristo rally

The National Capital Region Police Office on Tuesday defended their decision to not disperse the rally of members of religious group Iglesia ni Cristo last Sunday even if their permit to rally was breached.

In a phone interview with GMA News Online, NCRPO chief Police Chief Supt. Joel Padilao said there was no dispersal order "dahil generally peaceful naman noong nagra-rally sila."

Pagdilao also said the police were in touch with the leadership of the religious group.

"Nakalagay sa permit, dapat hanggang Crossing lang sila, kaso dumami kasi sila, may mga dumating mula probinsya, so nag-swell ang crowd, umabot silang Megamall at sa EDSA Shrine," Pagdilao said.

Church members began their mass action last Thursday in front of the Department of Justice compound to protest the supposed special attention the DOJ was giving to the criminal complaints for illegal detention and harassment filed by an expelled minister against some Iglesia ni Cristo leaders.

They moved their protest to EDSA on Friday evening, paralyzing the main thoroughfare with some 20,000 people attending the rally on Sunday night.

The Mandaluyong city government issued a permit for the group to stay at EDSA-Shaw until midnight on Monday, but Mayor Benhur Abalos announced that he was allowing protesters to stay until morning.

The protesters began leaving EDSA by 8:34 a.m. on Monday.

'Maximum tolerance'

Asked if it has been common practice to allow protesters to stage a rally even without a permit, Pagdilao said the police observe a policy of maximum tolerance.

"Syempre, hindi mo naman sila pwede paalisin agad, kailangang mag-dialogue muna talaga," Pagdilao said.

Pagdilao said they would only disperse a rally if there was violence ensues.

"Maximum tolerance ang sinusunod natin sa mga rally, whatever movement, rally, [kahit] walang permit, pinapayagan namin," he said. "We dialogue with them." —NB, GMA News