NCRPO chief: No special treatment for Iglesia Ni Cristo rally despite being church member

No special treatment was given to the rallyists at the EDSA-White Plains area on Monday, even with a member of the Iglesia Ni Cristo in charge of the police operations.

According to Jun Veneracion's report on "24 Oras," National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Major General Anthony Aberin is a member of the religious group.

“Although INC po tayo, we will abide by the Constitution. We are for the duly constituted authorities. Doon po tayo sa nakakarami,” Aberin said in an interview in the middle of the rally.

(Although I am an INC member, we will abide by the Constitution. We stand with the duly constituted authorities. We stand with the majority.)

The EDSA rally caught the authorities by surprise when protesters gathered early on Tuesday early morning. The protest action had no permit.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government ordered the PNP to exercise maximum tolerance.

"The DILG has directed the Philippine National Police (PNP), in close coordination with the concerned local government unit, to exercise maximum tolerance and implement appropriate security and traffic management measures to help ensure that the activity remains peaceful, orderly, and safe for all," the DILG said in a statement.

The Quezon City Police District said the rally permit for INC members at the EDSA People Power Monument has been approved until 8:00 PM tomorrow, July 1.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) stated that they will respect the right of every Filipino to peaceably assemble and express their grievances.

Meanwhile, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) continues to coordinate with the PNP to monitor the situation.

The AFP is appealing to the rally organizers to ensure that the public is not entirely inconvenienced by the ongoing mobilization. –Vince Angelo Ferreras/NB, GMA News