MANILA, Philippines - Outgoing Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas on Saturday reminded the members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) who gathered on EDSA in Mandaluyong City that people have rules to obey.
"Let us remember that ours is a Rule of Law and not of men," Roxas said in a statement.
Roxas said that the policemen deployed in parts of EDSA where INC followers have converged are tasked to maintain peace and order in the area.
"As in all protest actions, preserving peace and order with maximum tolerance will be practiced by all responding policemen... The PNP is duty-bound to ensure that the safety and general welfare of the public is maintained, both those protesting and those uninvolved. This includes making sure opportunists do not try to take advantage of the situation for personal ends," Roxas said.
He also reminded the INC members of the inconvenience which resulted from their actions, causing heavy traffic along the busy major thoroughfare.
"While all citizens have the right to be heard and to peaceful assembly, the exercise of these rights cannot impinge on the rights of others or cause inconvenience to anyone. Lalo na 'yung mga kababayan nating pauwi sa kanilang mga tahanan para magpahinga at makasama ang kanilang mga pamilya," Roxas said.
On Thursday, droves of INC members trooped to the Department of Justice in Manila and called for the resignation of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima for her alleged interfering with the internal affairs of the religious group.
Upon orders of their religious leaders, the INC members also converged and massed up along EDSA near the EDSA Shrine and a shopping mall in Mandaluyong City Friday afternoon.