DILG: 1st day of INC rally 'generally peaceful'

Although the first day of the Iglesia ni Cristo’s rally at the Luneta in Manila was generally peaceful, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Sunday assured that the government is fully prepared to address threats to public order, including destabilizers.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla gave the assurance in a statement after conducting a site inspection with Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Lieutenant General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. and National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director Major General Anthony Aberin.

“Sa pinag-usapan namin ng mga tagapamahala ng INC, nakikita naman natin na they are living to what they promised. Tahimik naman sa Quirino,” Remulla said.

(In our discussions with the leaders of the INC, we saw that they are living to what they promised. The rally at the Quirino is peaceful.)

According to the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, the crowd at the Luneta has reached 314,000 as of 4 p.m. Sunday.

According to the Manila DRRM Office's Facebook page, the crowd estimate apparently peaked at 650,000 at the Quirino Grandstand at 6 p.m. Sunday.

INC general evangelist Bienvenido Santiago Jr. said the INC’s three-day protest is aimed at calling for concrete actions to end corruption in flood control projects and not the government’s downfall.

Remulla said the PNP strengthened its security preparations for the three-day rally from its “lessons learned” in the Sept. 21 anti-corruption rally.

It may be recalled that 216 individuals – including minors – were arrested and 95 policemen were injured when protesters clashed with law enforcers in Manila during the Sept. 21 protests, which also led to vandalism and destruction of public and private property.

“It is better to overreact than underreact. It is better to be overprepared than underprepared. Lessons learned,” Remulla said.

He added that there were no untoward incidents recorded so far in the INC rally, as he assured that authorities remain on alert.

“Tuwing may pagtitipon ang mga tao na ganyan, it is normal na ang security protocol ng Malacañang is on high alert. Pinapakita lang namin na for any eventuality handa ang PNP at BFP (Bureau of Fire Protection),” he said.

(Everytime there are gatherings like this, it is normal that the security protocol of Malacañang is on high alert. We are showing that the PNP and the BFP are prepared for any eventuality.)

At the same time, the Interior Secretary warned groups or individuals against disrupting the peaceful three-day demonstration.

“We don’t want destabilization sa gobyerno. We are all calling for a peaceful rally para maghanap ng katotohanan at hustisya. Pero ang destabilization, hindi talaga kami papaya,” Remulla said.

(We don’t want destabilization against the government. We are calling for a peaceful rally to call for truth and justice. But we will not allow destabilization.)

He also reminded parents to remind their children not to join disorderly groups.

“Pinost ko naman sa Facebook page ng DILG, nagbigay ako ng babala sa mga magulang. Pagsabihan ang mga anak na huwag sumama sa mga Geng-Geng at Gangsta,” Remulla said.

(I posted it on the Facebook page of the DILG, I gave a warning to parents, for them to remind their children not to join geng-gengs and gansgta.)

“Buong bigat ng batas at hustisya ang gagamitin namin laban sa mga destabilizers,” he added.

(We will use the full force of the law and justice against destabilizers.) — JMA, GMA Integrated News