Palace assures gov’t monitoring of Iglesia ni Cristo protest

Malacañang on Friday evening said the government continues to monitor the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) protest, which has now reached Edsa Shrine.

“Government is monitoring to ensure public safety,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a text message to INQUIRER.net.

Coloma also denied that an emergency meeting has been called by President Benigno Aquino III on Friday evening as thousands of INC protesters trooped to Edsa from the Department of Justice (DOJ) office in Padre Faura.

“Not true,” Coloma said.

The group has been protesting Justice Secretary Justice Leila de Lima’s alleged prioritization of an illegal detention case filed by former INC minister Isaias Samson.

Earlier in the day, Coloma assured the INC that it is not interfering in the “internal affairs” of legitimate organizations.

“The Department of Justice has been performing its duties in accordance with its mandate of ensuring “every person equal access to justice, to faithfully safeguard constitution rights and to ensure that no one is deprived of due process of law,” the Secretary said.

He added that there are already mechanisms that are available under the law for “anyone that would seek to question the actions of the Department of Justice.”

“We trust that expressions of dissent will continue to be peaceful, orderly and not in any way disruptive of normal activities of our citizenry,” Coloma said. Kristine Angeli Sabillo

The Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) protest has now reached Edsa Shrine. REM ZAMORA