Massive Iglesia rally set in Davao City; 100,000 marchers seen

NIÑO JESUS ORBETA/INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Preparations have been underway for a massive rally here by members of the influential Iglesia ni Cristo from Southern Mindanao on Monday, authorities said.

An estimated 100,000 people from 22 districts in Mindanao were expected participate in the four-day gathering in the regional capital, and close to 100 policemen and civil disturbance management (CDM) personnel would be deployed to provide security and traffic control, said Senior Insp, Milgrace Driz, city police spokesperson.

Coming from the provinces of Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley and Davao Occidental, as well as from the cities of Davao,Panabo, Tagum, Digos and Samal, the participants would have arrived here Sunday midnight, with the rally beginning around 7 a.m. Monday (Aug. 31), Driz said.

She said the mass action would be centered at the Hall of Justice building in Ecoland area, just across the Davao City overland transport terminal (DCOTT), a major transport hub for buses plying major Mindanao routes.

The INC crowd would be occupying a two-lane street. They are expected to cause traffic outside the main bus terminal in the city.

The sect members were granted a permit to rally for four days but there was no definite time as to when they would leave, said Driz.

“Organizers had a meeting with the DCPO and they assured the rally would be peaceful,” the city police spokesperson told the Philippine Daily Inquirer by mobile phone.

She said the city police office has drawn out preparations for the massive gathering believed to be in connection with the recent events in Manila concerning one of the country’s most powerful religious sects.

Driz said 30 police officers would provide security at the area while the city traffic group would be deployed to manage traffic congestion. About 50 CDM personnel would also be on standby “for any eventuality,” Driz said.

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