A large-scale protest disrupted traffic on Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) on Tuesday, leading to the cancellation of public engagements by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and intensifying political tensions ahead of the impeachment trial of Vice-President Sara Duterte-Carpio. The demonstration, organized in response to a nonbailable plunder case against a sitting senator, drew thousands of participants and triggered heightened security measures.
The protest centered on allegations involving an unreported P75 million in campaign donations linked to Senator Rodante D. Marcoleta. Authorities announced plans to file the case before the Sandiganbayan, citing discrepancies in the senator’s asset disclosures. Organizers, including the religious group Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), framed the gathering as a defense of legal integrity rather than an opposition to law enforcement.
“Our concern is the distortion of the law to conceal corruption,” stated an INC representative during a livestreamed address. Participants gathered at the EDSA Shrine in Quezon City before dawn, overwhelming roads and prompting lane closures. Police estimated the crowd at around 10,000 by midday, with 6,000 officers deployed to manage the event and restore traffic flow.
Presidential engagements, including the launch of a Manila Bay cleanup initiative and a diplomatic luncheon in Makati City, were scrapped hours before the scheduled start of the protest. The Palace reaffirmed the right to peaceful assembly while emphasizing that legal violations would be addressed. Officials warned against disruptions to public order, though no direct threats to the President were reported despite increased security around Malacañang.
Political tensions escalated as Vice-President Duterte-Carpio accused the administration of politicizing the judiciary. She claimed the Marcos-led government had “weaponized the justice system” to suppress dissent. Palace representatives countered that legal actions were routine and not influenced by external pressures. Marcoleta denied wrongdoing, suggesting the charges aim to sideline him during Duterte’s impeachment proceedings set to begin the following week.
Senator Panfilo M. Lacson clarified earlier remarks about potential arrests, stating his comments were hypothetical and focused on Senate procedural rules. He expressed confidence that judicial independence would remain intact despite public demonstrations. Executive Secretary Dave M. Gomez confirmed that the President’s upcoming visit to Canada for bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Mark Carney would proceed as planned, unaffected by domestic developments.
