On Monday ( Jan 13 ), thousands of police will be stationed in Manila to watch a planned “million-strong” rally by an influential religious group calling for the ouster of Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte, according to officials.
The traditional Iglesia ni Cristo ( Church of Christ ), which announced the security arrangements on Friday ahead of the “national march for peace,” which last month criticized House of Representatives moves to remove Duterte from power.
The strong spiritual team, which is estimated to have more than two million people, has tremendous strength in the Philippines, where 80 per cent of the people are Catholics.
Duterte, a former ally of President Ferdinand Marcos, is also the subject of an investigation over an alleged narrative to have him assassinated, according to three prosecution complaints filed in the past two decades.
Iglesia announced on its tv channel last month that it was opposed to having Rodrigo Duterte, the daughter of former president Rodrigo Duterte, be impeached and is widely anticipated to run for president in 2028.
Members of the group are required to cast ballots for political individuals who have received the blessings of their rulers, making it a useful democratic union.
When contacted by AFP on Friday, Iglesia’s standard spokesman declined to comment.
Government buildings and schools in the money will be shut down on Monday” to let the organized conduct of the occasion,” Marcos ‘ Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin announced in a written purchase on Friday.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority intends to close major thoroughfares in the funds in preparation for the march.
” We anticipate one million visitors coming from different regions” to be bussed in for the march using” thousands” of cars, the federal company’s director Romando Artes told a news event.
Rommel Marbil, the head of the Spanish police, announced on Friday that he would install 2,500 policemen to the rally in Manila.
Similar demonstrations are being planned for the same day in 13 different provincial centers, according to Marbil in an interview with DWPM television in Manila.