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KORONADAL CITY (MindaNews / 15 January) – At least 35 local government units (LGUs) in Region 12 (Soccsksargen) suspende...
15/01/2025

KORONADAL CITY (MindaNews / 15 January) – At least 35 local government units (LGUs) in Region 12 (Soccsksargen) suspended classes on Wednesday due to rains brought by easterlies or winds coming from the east, the Office of Civil Defense – 12 (OCD-12) said.

PAGASA-DOST image as of 5:00 a.m. on Wednesday, 15 January 2025.

As of 7:41 a.m., OCD-12 reported that seven LGUs in Sultan Kudarat, 11 in South Cotabato, seven in Sarangani, nine in North Cotabato and General Santos City suspended classes in both private and public schools due to the bad weather.

The agency warned residents in flood- and landslide-prone areas to take precautions as the rainfall could cause flooding and landslides.

In a statement posted on Facebook, OCD-12 said that the LGUs suspended classes in all levels, except for this city that declared class suspensions only from kindergarten to high school levels.

The towns in Sultan Kudarat that declared no classes were Columbio, Sen. Ninoy Aquino, Bagumbayan, Pres. Quirino, Lutayan, Palimbang, and Esperanza.

In South Cotabato, classes were suspended in Sto. Niño, Banga, Lake Sebu, T’boli, Surallah, Norala, Polomolok, Tantangan, Tupi, Tampakan, and Koronadal City.

In Sarangani, the towns of Alabel, Malapatan, Malungon, Maasim, Kiamba, Glan, and Maitum also suspended classes.

No classes were declared in the municipalities of Matalam, Kabacan, President Roxas, Magpet, Makilala, Carmen, Tulunan and Arakan, and Kidapawan City.

The General Santos City LGU also suspended classes in all levels in both public and private schools.

In Koronadal City, the capital of South Cotabato and the seat of government of Region 12, moderate to heavy rainfall was experience since Tuesday night until 8:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Depending on the LGUs, class suspensions were either half or full day. (B**g S. Sarmiento / MindaNews)

KORONADAL CITY (MindaNews / 15 January) – At least 35 local government units (LGUs) in Region 12 (Soccsksargen) suspended classes on Wednesd...

[A Pastoral Statement on the Manobo-Pulangiyon Kianteg (MPK) Struggle for Ancestral Domain at the 53rd Priests and Conse...
14/01/2025

[A Pastoral Statement on the Manobo-Pulangiyon Kianteg (MPK) Struggle for Ancestral Domain at the 53rd Priests and Consecrated Persons Annual Assembly]

We, the 134 priests and consecrated persons of the Diocese of Malaybalay, firmly express the fruits of our collective discernment during our 53rd annual assembly on November 18-20, 2024 at the Diocesan Pastoral Center, Impalambong, City of Malaybalay.

As our response to the urgent challenges of political participation and synodal family life, we have chosen to reflect on the theme “What Do You Seek? Pastoral Pathways to a More Welcoming Church.” The process and content of our prayerful gathering has allowed us to critically reflect on our political participation in the transformation of the negative realities in the light of our Christian faith that compels us to discern appropriate pastoral actions. As we celebrate the Jubilee of Hope 2025, we are challenged “to be obstinate in our faith … anchored on the love of God that has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit (cf. Rom 5:3-5).”

The Historical Background of MPK Community

We are aware of the historical and social injustices suffered by the Manobo-Pulangiyon Kianteg (MPK) community that comprises a thousand families who have been struggling to reclaim and repossess their ancestral land “containing (more or less) an area of 1,111.4040 hectares,” located in the adjacent Barangays of San Jose and Butong, in the Municipality of Quezon, Province of Bukidnon.

Some members of Manobo-Pulangiyon of Kianteg (MPK) community representing the nine clans of the tribe appeal to government authorities for justice and call for public support of their rights to repossess their ancestral domain. Photo courtesy of BAE CHERYL ANGLAO

Historically, the agrarian struggle of the MPK members began in 1921 when Bukidnon’s first governor Don Manolo Fortich “borrowed” the ancestral land from them through a verbal agreement he made with tribal leaders at the time. Accordingly, “Fortich transformed their ancestral land into a cattle ranch, put up a fence around it, and hired a private army to watch its perimeter.” In effect, their ancestral land was grabbed as Fortich failed his promise to return it to them after 30 years.

In 1986, the Kianteg Development Corporation (KDC), a company managed and co-owned by Mr. Pablo Lorenzo III, leased from Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) about 958 hectares of MPK’s ancestral land (comprising the Forest Land Grazing Management Agreement or FLGMA No. 122 and Lot No. 8966, Cad-895-D, Dsd-140-023647). This lease agreement expired on December 31, 2018.

The Current Situation of MPK Community

It has been reported by National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) that KDC’s lease agreement with DENR is “fraught with violations especially so that some of these areas are now under lease with big companies for pineapple plantations instead of being utilized for agro-forest purposes.” Moreover, the Montalvan Ranch, an adjacent company where Mr. Pablo Lorenzo III serves as both its president and chairman, has also used a parcel of MPK’s ancestral domain.

Recently, many MPK members have suffered violence and oppression as a consequence of their agrarian struggle. In fact, one of their very vocal tribal leaders, Datu Renato Anglao, was killed by three unidentified gunmen on February 3, 2017. They were also being red-tagged and vilified by the local government. They are continually threatened and intimidated by the presence of KDC’s private armies who would not hesitate to use violence against them if they attempt to enter their ancestral domain.

Many MPK families are desperately living in a dangerous situation. In 2018, more than a hundred Lumad families decided to live in makeshift shanties along the highway to gain legal recognition of their ancestral land. Recently, however, only around 80 families remain, representing the nine clans of MPK community. Their inhuman condition has been described as “living in so much hunger and poverty, eating only kamote once a day or nothing at all and the children are all malnourished, suffering from different kinds of diseases, drinking water where they are swimming.” The children have to be tied up, especially at night, as seven children have already been hit by running cars and trucks.

One of the Lumad children in the Manobo-Pulangiyon of Kianteg (MPK) community who has to be tied especially at night to prevent him from going to the highway. Seven Lumad children had been hit by cars and trucks along the highway. Photo courtesy of BAE CHERYL ANGLAO

Since the ancestral domain of the MPK is classified as alienable and disposable land, DENR ordered, as early as 1999, that upon the expiration of the said lease agreement in 2018, its “Office will no longer facilitate the renewal.” Thus, on February 1, 2019, DENR sent a Letter to KDC, through Pablo Lorenzo III, informing the corporation that the previously leased areas are now under the exclusive jurisdiction of the NCIP.

We sincerely thank the NCIP for implementing the Republic Act no. 8371 or the Indigenous People Right Act (IPRA) of 1997. Firstly, it served the notice to KDC on Feb 1, 2019, instructing the corporation to vacate its previously leased ancestral land. Secondly, it issued to MPK a Certificate of Recognition of Ancestral Domain on October 6, 2021, which recognizes “the Manobo-Pulangiyon Indigenous Peoples (IPs) … as the rightful owner and possessor of a certain ancestral domain situated in Barangay San Jose and portion of Barangay Butong, Municipality of Quezon, Province of Bukidnon, containing an area of 1,111.4040 hectares, more or less.” Thirdly, to stop the KDC from illegally occupying and cultivating the ancestral land, it courageously issued the Cease and Desist Order (CDO) against the corporation on April 30, 2022. And lastly, it approved MPK’s Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) numbered R10-QUE-0113-00261 on January 13, 2023. It is, therefore, very clear that the law is on the side of the MPK IPs.

We are Challenged to be in Synodality with MPK Community

We commend our Indigenous Peoples Apostolate (IPA) of the Diocese of Malaybalay, together with its supportive civil society groups, for accompanying the MPK community in their process of preparing for a peaceful and legal occupation of the ancestral domain. They crucially helped the MPK leaders engage in tactical alliance with other concerned government agencies particularly the DENR, DAR, PNP Regional Office, and Military. They all gave assurances of support for MPK’s plan to occupy their ancestral domain. Consequently, the NCIP endorsed on September 25, 2024 the “Legal Opinion of the TWG [i.e., technical working group] on the Proposed Repossession on Ancestral Domain Covered by CADT No. R10-QUE- 1301-261.”

Church and civil society support groups, represented by Ms. Myrna Siose and Sr. Lyzyl Italio, MMS meet with the nine clan leaders of Manobo-Pulangiyon of Kianteg (MPK) community on November 15, 2024 to discuss the next move after the failed repossession attempt on October 21, 2024. Photo courtesy of SR. ROSALINDA MAOG, MMS

We initially rejoiced when we heard about the MPK’s plan to repossess and occupy their ancestral domain on October 21, 2024. Accordingly, they shall be accompanied by the support group including three Bishops: Noel Pedregosa of Malaybalay, Valentin Dimoc of Bontoc-Lagawe, and Archbishop Emeritus Antonio Ledesma of Cagayan de Oro. Together with them are representatives from IPA of the Diocese of Malaybalay, Xavier Science Foundation, Birhen sa Kota Development Foundation and the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Indigenous Peoples (CBCP-ECIP).

We were very indignant to know that the MPK members failed in their plan to repossess the ancestral domain on October 21, 2024 because “the PNP coercively stopped them.” As one of the bishops who joined the support group boldly testified: “The PNP also coercively stopped us at the checkpoint and blocked the road leading to the IP community without any valid reason.” The PNP’s coercive action is tantamount to serving and protecting the oppressive interest of KDC that continues to illegally occupy the titled ancestral domain the MPK Lumads.

We share the frustration with the MPK members who were deeply puzzled by the NCIP’s sudden abandonment of their entry plan as revealed in the suspicious actions of the Acting NCIP X Regional Director and the NCIP X Legal Officer. We were surprised to learn that these NCIP regional officers had tried to make the MPK leaders believe that pursuing the plan to occupy their ancestral land would be an illegal entry if they don’t have a “court order” from the Supreme Court. In effect, these NCIP personnel were suspiciously trying to persuade the MPK members not to repossess and occupy their ancestral domain according to the IPRA legal procedures.

We sadly recalled MPK’s failed attempts in the past to peacefully enter their ancestral domain. We could not forget the violent incident on April 19, 2022 when the members of MPK Community attempted to enter the five hectares open area, which had been identified earlier during the hearing on April 18, 2022 at the Quezon Municipal building. To witness their initial entry, they were accompanied by a support group from Church and civil society organization (CSO) and the then Presidential Candidate Leody de Guzman, who happened to be there for his election campaign. The witnesses recounted how the KDC Blue guards opened fire at the MPK members, who were at that time performing their religious ritual of entering the identified open area, and reportedly wounded at least five persons.

We could feel MPK’s traumatic experiences of being abandoned and betrayed by the PNP and NCIP in the foregoing failed attempts. Like them, we have also greatly expected that both government agencies would properly implement their respective mandated roles to protect and join the IPs especially in those critical circumstances. We were quite hurt to hear the disturbing words of their humiliated tribal leader: “basura ang pagtan-aw sa amo sa mga tawo…” (people look at us as garbage).

We Embrace the Church’s Preferential Option for the Indigenous People

As members of the Church who have particular vows to follow Jesus Christ closely, we reflectively ask ourselves: what is it that we should be doing when we say “our main concern with tribal peoples is to bring them the Gospel of Christ”? In the light of our preferential option for the poor, we re-affirm the social teaching of our former Bishop, Francisco Claver, SJ, that it is essentially part of the Church’s mission “to defend the rights of the indigenous people, guarding them against violators.” Grabbing their ancestral domain is categorically both illegal and immoral.

As Church of the Poor, we have the moral duty to obey the Spirit of the Lord who sent us “to bring glad tidings to the poor” and to liberate the victims of injustices and all forms of oppression (cf. Lk 4:18-19). To remain neutral and silent in the face of injustices and oppression can never be a Christian option!

Members of the Church-CSO support group of Manobo-Pulangiyon of Kianteg (MPK) community on their way to Brgy. Butong, Quezon to witness the scheduled repossession of the tribe’s ancestral domain on October 21, 2024. Three bishops joined (center L to R: Archbishop Emeritus Antonio Ledesma, SJ, of Cagayan de Oro; Bishop Valentin Dimoc, D.D. of Bontoc-Lagawe, chair of CBCP Episcopal Commission on Indigenous Peoples; and Malaybalay Bishop Noel Pedregosa). Photo courtesy of SISTER ROSALINDA MAOG, MMS

In the spirit of synodality, our ecclesial communities are called to inclusively relate with Lumad communities and join them in their struggle for the fullness of life. The inhuman situation perpetuated by their oppressors is not God’s will. It hinders the building up of a truly human and Chistian community; it unduly delays the coming of God’s reign in our history. It is Chistian imperative to treat our Lumad brothers and sisters as fellow travelers towards the shared destiny of the fullness of life offered by Jesus Christ (cf. Jn 10:10). Like us, they also belong to the one human family under inclusive reign of God.

Following St. John Paul II, we recognize the intimate connection between IPs and their ancestral land. We believe that when “indigenous peoples are deprived of their land, they lose a vital element of their way of life and actually run the risk of disappearing as a people.” IPs identify themselves with the ancestral land so intimately that separation from it would naturally lead to the destruction of their culture and eventually to their extinction. With St. John Paul II, we link the ancestral land rights with the right to life.

In Laudato Si’, Francis calls us to join the IPs in their agrarian struggle, especially in treating the land as “a gift from God and from their ancestors who rest there, a sacred space with which they need to interact if they are to maintain their identity and values.” A concrete way to defend IPs, therefore, is to join them in their struggle for agrarian justice and help them cope with the negative effects of capitalistic modern development that forces them “to abandon their homelands to make room for agricultural or mining projects which are undertaken without regard for the degradation of nature and culture.” From this perspective, we cannot separate our ecological care for the environment and our liberative care for the Lumads.

We are Called to Courageously Act as a Prophetic Church

We support the different initiatives of our Diocese to report the anomalous behaviors of the local authorities, as well as their consequent irregular incidents in implementing the laws, to the Philippine President and the PNP Chief. We also support our Diocese’s initiative to send a Letter of Complaint to the NCIP Chair.

While waiting for their respective replies, we renew our commitment to continue our solidarity with the oppressed MPK community as we join them in the struggle to repossess their ancestral domain according to the legal procedures articulated in the IPRA. We believe that proper implementation of this law is legally sufficient. Thus, we insist that MPK should no longer be required to secure a court order from the Supreme Court before claiming their ancestral land.

More specifically, to support MPK’s peaceful process and nonviolent agrarian struggle, we call on the proper government authorities to (1) investigate the blue guards of KDC who are allegedly accused of violent harassment of the MPK community; and (2) reopen the investigation of the shooting incident on April 19, 2022, that wounded several members of the MPK community. In both cases, we call on the proper authorities to investigate Mr. Pablo Lorenzo III for conflict of interests and obstructing the implementation of IPRA law.

In the name of justice and for the sake of the one thousand suffering families of IP claimants, we call on the NCIP, PNP, AFP and other government agencies to work together for the common good and have the courage to dutifully enforce the IPRA law. Immediately install and secure the MPK community into their ancestral domain!

FOR THE 53rd PRIESTS & CONSECRATED PERSONS ANNUAL ASSEMBLY:

(Sgd) MOST REVEREND NOEL P. PEDREGOSA, D.D.

Bishop of Malaybalay

November 20, 2024

* In solidarity with our Bishop, the priests also signed this document.

(Fr. Reynaldo D. Raluto has been serving as parish priest of Jesus Nazareno Parish in Libona, Bukidnon since 2021 and has been leading the Integral Ecology Ministry of the Diocese of Malaybalay since 2022. From 2011 to 2021, he served as Academic Dean of St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Cagayan de Oro where he also teaches fundamental/systematic theology and Catholic social teaching. Among his ecological advocacies are planting/growing Philippine native trees, mountain climbing, biking, and active participation in the cultural and ecological activities of the Indigenous People Apostolate of the Diocese.)

[A Pastoral Statement on the Manobo-Pulangiyon Kianteg (MPK) Struggle for Ancestral Domain at the 53 rd Priests and Consecrated Persons An...

Light to moderate rains soak Davao City and neighboring areas due to easterlies on Tuesday afternoon (14 January 2025). ...
14/01/2025

Light to moderate rains soak Davao City and neighboring areas due to easterlies on Tuesday afternoon (14 January 2025). The PAGASA weather bureau said that the country is expected to experience above-normal rainfall conditions from January to March due to La Niña conditions. MindaNews photo

Light to moderate rains soak Davao City and neighboring areas due to easterlies on Tuesday afternoon (14 January 2025). The PAGASA weather ...

Preparations are now underway at the Shrine of the Holy Infant of the Prague of Davao City on Tuesday (14 January 2025)....
14/01/2025

Preparations are now underway at the Shrine of the Holy Infant of the Prague of Davao City on Tuesday (14 January 2025). The feast of Senior Santo Niño, celebrated on the third Sunday of January (19th in 2025), is one of the most widely celebrated religious festivity in the country. MindaNews photo

Preparations are now underway at the Shrine of the Holy Infant of the Prague of Davao City on Tuesday (14 January 2025). The feast of Senio...

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 13 Jan) – The Iglesia Ni Cristo’s “National Rally for Peace” at the San Pedro Square here Monday...
13/01/2025

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 13 Jan) – The Iglesia Ni Cristo’s “National Rally for Peace” at the San Pedro Square here Monday, which police said was participated by 370,000 church members, turned out to be a showcase of talents – mostly song and dance presentation by the youth. The rest of the time was spent watching the broadcast of the INC-controlled NET 25 TV station on big LED screens.

INC members attending the “National Rally for Peace” in Davao City watch the live NET 25 broadcast shown on big TV screens on Monday (13 January 2025). MindaNews photo by MANMAN DEJETO

No one from among the local members of the church spoke about the issues that precipitated the nationwide prayer rally: the impeachment cases filed against Vice President Sara Duterte.

The teenaged boys and girls sang and danced to the tune of mostly modern Filipino songs from groups like Itchyworms and BINI.

And while the NET 25 broadcast, including that of the prayer rally at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila reportedly attended by more than a million people, was flashed on 20 or so big LED screens at the San Pedro Square and adjacent areas, some INC members looked bored. Some were sleeping, others were eating, playing with or scrolling their phones, or even venturing into the ukay-ukay stalls along San Pedro St. in downtown Davao City.

INC members who attended the prayer rally started arriving as early as 2 a.m., according to Angel Sumagaysay, head of the Public Safety and Security Office.

The event started at 9 a.m., showing the sing and dance intermission numbers until 10 a.m. Then the rally participants watched the live broadcast of NET 25 showing updates of INC rallies all over the country.

By 3:30 p.m., NET 25 showed the events at the Quririno Grandstand until 5:22 p.m. The intermission numbers then resumed until 7:20 p.m., when the prayer rally ended.

Capt. Hazel Caballero, DCPO spokesperson, said that by 5 p.m., 370,000 people were in the San Pedro Square and neighboring areas, spilling over to the streets nearby – San Pedro, C.M. Recto (commonly known as Claveria), Pelayo (commonly known as Legaspi), A. Inigo (commonly known as Anda), C. Bangoy (commonly known as Magallanes), Rizal, Bonifacio, Palma Gil, Bolton, and City Hall Drive.

When the NET 25 broadcast ended, INC members took souvenir pictures, then left to go home.

Some helped out to gather the trash, segregating the paper materials of the placards from the wooden frames and handles. Garbage collectors from the city government soon came to collect the trash.

Col. Hansel Marantan was impressed, saying that the INC members were “cooperative” and “disciplined.”

Three impeachment complaints have been filed against VP Duterte in the House of Representatives for alleged culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, bribery and other high crimes for the alleged misuse of confidential funds as Vice President and as Education Secretary.

The Vice President, in a video message, thanked INC members who joined the rallies.

“Ito ay isang makapangyarihang pagpapakita ng pagkakaisa at pananampalataya na ang tanging hangad lamang ay kapayapaan tungo sa kaunlaran ng ating bansa,” she said. (Ian Carl Espinosa / MindaNews)

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 13 Jan) – The Iglesia Ni Cristo’s “National Rally for Peace” at the San Pedro Square here Monday, which police said ...

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews / 13 January) – Renowned local artist and activist Nicolas Aca was briefly detained by th...
13/01/2025

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews / 13 January) – Renowned local artist and activist Nicolas Aca was briefly detained by the police for staging a solo performance against the “National Rally for Peace” held by Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) members at the Divisoria here noon on Monday.

Artist Nicolas Aca in a solo performance in the sidelines of the Iglesia ni Cristo’s “National Rally for Peace” before he was arrested by policemen in Cagayan de Oro CIty. MindaNews photo by FROILAN GALLARDO | More photos of the Cagayan de Oro rally

Clad in chains and dirty black clothes, Aca was protesting how religion affects the political landscape in the country when the policemen arrested him.

Aca, who chairs the city government’s historical commission and who have performed all over Asia, was detained by four policemen in front of the Divisoria fruit stand section, a block away from the amphitheater where thousands of INC members conducted their rally.

“The four policemen held my shoulders to stop my performance and when I asked them what law I violated, they could not give me a clear answer,” Aca said, adding that they released him after 15 minutes.

Aca is known here for his politically sensitive one-man shows, especially during big crowd events in Cagayan de Oro.

Carlos Isagani Zarate, former Bayan Muna partylist representative and human rights lawyer, said that Aca’s brief arrest was a clear violation of the Bill of Rights.

“Aca was just expressing himself. The Constitution protects him for that as well as it protects the rights of the INC members for expressing themselves during the rally,” he said.

Zarate said the fact that Aca was not disturbing the peace gave the policemen no right to detain him.

Thousands of INC members from five districts were brought by buses, vans and private vehicles from Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Note and Bukidnon.

They started arriving in Cagayan de Oro on Sunday, according to Ian Fuentes, the city’s public information officer.

Fuentes said the INC applied for a permit to hold the rally from the amphitheater to Magsaysay Park fronting Xavier University.

He said the INC members started to arrive at the rally venue around 6 a.m. and dispersed around 5 p.m.

Mobile phone services were temporarily suspended in the entire city while the local government implemented road closures and routing schemes to avoid heavy traffic buildup along the amphitheater and the Magsaysay Park in Divisoria.

The INC members were supposed to position themselves in six sections of the Divisoria, but five of the huge TV screens placed in strategic areas malfunctioned by 9 a.m. Monday. (Froilan Gallardo / MindaNews)

See related story in Davao City here.

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews / 13 January) – Renowned local artist and activist Nicolas Aca was briefly detained by the police for staging...

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/13 Jan) – Aside from the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), another group claiming to oppose the impeachment...
13/01/2025

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/13 Jan) – Aside from the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), another group claiming to oppose the impeachment cases filed against Vice President Sara Duterte joined the religious sect’s “National Rally for Peace” here Monday.

Members of the Protect VP Sara Movement gather at the Freedom Park in Davao City before marching to join the INC’s “National Rally for Peace” at San Pedro Square on Monday (13 January 2025). MindaNews photo by IAN CARL ESPINOSA | More pictures here

Some members claiming to be associated with the Protect VP Sara Movement, a group which was formed December last year, marched from Freedom Park near Roxas Ave. corner C. Bangoy St. all the way to San Pedro Square, where the INC is holding its rally, about 15 minutes away. They started marching at 2 p.m.

Tristan Digan, the movement’s lead convenor, told the media that they gathered around 2,000 members. He said they have been staging rallies as early as Dec. 8, but pointed out they are not part of the Maisug group, the pro-Duterte movement formed early in 2024.

Digan said that aside from Davao City, they have members from other areas in the Davao Region and from as far as Sultan Kudarat, Cotabato, and Basilan.

They claimed they are here to offer “prayer for peace and justice” as support for the INC’s cause.

“Kining mga miyembro nato dili sila maka-siyagit sa mga gusto nila, dili nila mahimo kay lagi kini respeto sab sa INC. Paningkamotan nato nga maabot nato ang hustisya [para kang Vice President] (Our members opted not to shout what they want for now, in deference to the INC. We will try out best to get justice for the Vice President),” Digan said.

He said they have been staging rallies every Sunday, urging more people to join them to “support the Vice President” amid the impeachment cases.

The first impeachment complaint against Duterte was filed last Dec. 2. The second one came two days after, and the third on Dec. 19. These impeachment complaints mentioned betrayal of public trust, plunder, malversation, technical malversation, and bribery, among other reasons.

The filing of the impeachment complaints came after the growing tension between the Dutertes and the Marcoses, including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s first cousin, House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) estimated that as of 3 p.m. Monday, over 230,000 people were present in the INC’s “National Rally for Peace.”

INC regional legal officer Eranio “B**g” Estudillo said they had planned the rally as early as December last year, and they expected to gather around 500,000 members from their 12 districts in Regions 11 (Davao) and 12 (Soccsksargen), including some from Bukidnon province.

An INC district comprises several local congregations or churches in a geographic area.

Posters bearing the message “Para Sa Bayan… Protektahan Si VP Sara Duterte” (For the Country … Protect VP Sara Duterte) were being installed when MindaNews checked the venue Sunday afternoon.

The INC rally, which was scheduled to begin at 8 a.m., started 59 minutes late.

But it is expected that they will conduct their “program proper” at 4 p.m., DCPO spokesperson Hazel Caballero told the media, based on the INC’s request during the city council session Tuesday last week. (Ian Carl Espinosa / MindaNews)

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/13 Jan) – Aside from the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), another group claiming to oppose the impeachment cases filed against...

People start arriving near the junction of San Pedro St. and C. M. Recto Ave. in Davao City early morning Monday (13 Jan...
12/01/2025

People start arriving near the junction of San Pedro St. and C. M. Recto Ave. in Davao City early morning Monday (13 January 2024), a few hours before the start of the ‘National Rally for Peace’ organized by the Iglesia ni Cristo in support of Vice President Sara Duterte, who is facing three impeachment complaints at the House of Representatives for alleged culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, bribery and other high crimes for the alleged misuse of confidential funds as Vice President and as Education Secretary. MindaNews photo by IAN CARL ESPINOSA

People start arriving near the junction of San Pedro St. and C. M. Recto Ave. in Davao City early morning Monday (13 January 2024), a few h...

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