MANILA — Preparations for Iglesia Ni Cristo’s "National Rally for Peace" gathering on Monday, January 13, are now in full swing at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.

Security protocols are in place, including barricades and K9 units.

Portable toilets have also been installed in parts of the venue and medical stations have been set up.

Members of the religious group have also started to arrived at the venue a day before the event.

Rodrigo Gamas, 25, travelled all the way from Cabanatuan City in Nueva Ecija early Sunday with other INC members to avoid heavy traffic.

They set up a tent just beside the venue. However, they decided to book a hotel instead after MMDA personnel asked them to stay in the designated parking area instead.

Despite this, they are excited for tomorrow’s gathering.

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“Syempre po sumusunod po kami sa aming namamahala para po sa kapayapaan ng ating bansa,” he said.

(Of course, we will obey our leadership for peace in our country)

'A CALL FOR PEACE'

Erlinda Nioles, 60, also travelled early from Bocaue, Bulacan onboard a bus with other INC members.

She said they were asked to help in the preparations for the event.

“Utos lang po ng boss namin na magserbisyo po kami sa Quirino Grandstand kasi may mga bisita po,” she said.

(We were told to serve at the Quirino Grandstand because there are visitors)

She said that she and her companions believe helping out with the gathering is part of fulfilling her duty as an INC member.

Meanwhile, the group of Darius Lolong, 34, from Oriental Mindoro decided to eat and stay at the grandstand while they are sorting out where to spend the night.

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“Of course, very excited kami dahil sa ito first time na nangyari rin sa akin bilang INC and then syempre ang pinaka-ano naman natin dito is yung magkaroon tayo ng kapayapaan sa ating bansa sa lahat ng mga nanunungkulan at sa Pangulong [Ferdinand Marcos Jr.] ay kaisa kami ng kaniyang adhikain,” he explained.

(Of course, we are very excited because this is a first time for me as an INC member and, of course, the goal is to call for peace in the Philippines. We support President Marcos in his advocacy)

Frances Sabino, 60, from Lipa City, Batangas was passing some time with his husband at the crandstand when they chanced upon Lolong’s group.

She said she was elated at meeting other INC members from other parts of the country.

“These good brethren are from Oriental Mindoro and then they were having lunch nagpi-picnic na dito and then they invited us to eat so hindi talaga kami magkakakilala but I like I said we feel like we've known each other all our lives kasi ganun ang mga Iglesia (Ni Cristo) eh, pag nalamang Iglesia (Ni Cristo), magagaan agad ang loob,” she said.

Sabino, who has been an INC member since she was 12 years old, emphasized that the gathering is not intended for any political agenda.

“We'd like to show our unity it's not really to make a political statement, it's more of a rally for peace. So, how can it be political. It's anything but political,” she stressed.

Ka Edwil Zabala, an INC leader, said Saturday that the religious group "supports the opinion of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that he does not agree with the impeachment being pushed against our Vice President."

He said that the group also agrees with Marcos that impeachment proceedings would distract government from "many more things which our citizens need that must be attended to."

'ACCOUNTABILITY NOT A WASTE OF TIME'

But for ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro, who has endorsed one of three impeachment complaints filed against Vice President Sara Duterte, the gathering is "a calculated move" to shield Duterte from allegations of fund misuse at the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education that she headed until July 2024.

She said Duterte "must also answer for the alarming decline in our students' performance in international assessments for Math, English, and Science during her watch."

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In a separate statement, Bayan Muna chairperson Teddy Casiño said holding government officials accountable "will never be a waste of time and resources."

He added: "By saying that impeachment is only a waste of time, President Bongbong Marcos only deepens the culture of impunity, where public funds are questioned but the culprits are not held accountable."

GATHERINGS AT 13 SITES ACROSS THE PHILIPPINES

Authorities earlier said up to 1 million INC members are expected to attend the rally.

Zabala said Saturday attendees will begin to arrive at 8 a.m., while the event proper will start at 4 p.m. and expected to end at 6 p.m. on Monday. 

Parallel programs will also be held across the country, he said.

"All in all, there are 13 sites in different regions of the Philippines where people will gather," he said.

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With the arrival of members, lines of vans and buses can be seen parked along one lane of Bonifacio Drive to Anda Circle and Padre Burgos Avenue.

Several roads near Quirino Grandstand will be closed beginning 4 a.m. on Monday while rerouting scheme have been published by the MMDA and Manila Local Government Unit.