Vice President Jejomar ‘Jojo’ Binay shakes hands with people during a sortie in Antipolo City in this file photo. Binay urges understanding for members of the Iglesia ni Cristo who blocked traffic on Edsa for nearly four days. INQUIRER PHOTO / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA
PAOMBONG, Bulacan — Vice President Jejomar Binay said people should understand and respect the sentiments of members of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), who blocked traffic on Edsa for nearly four days over claims that the government was meddling in their sect’s affairs.
Binay, who visited several areas in Bulacan on Monday, said INC members had the right to assembly, even if their gathering caused disruptions to traffic and inconvenienced thousands of motorists, commuters and residents.
“Consequence talaga ng mga protesta at rally ang ganoon; dapat unawain ang mga protesters kung naging pasaway man sila,” (That’s the consequence of protest actions and rallies; people should understand the protesters if they caused inconvenience) the Vice President told reporters in Barangay Malumot here.
He added, “The Constitution guarantees our right to join protest actions and rallies. That is part of our freedom of expression, freedom of speech.”
Binay said the INC was having an “internal problem” and the state should not meddle in its affairs.
The “internal problem” claimed by the INC and Binay involved charges of illegal detention, coercion, threats and harassment filed by a former member against members of the sect’s Sanggunian or ruling council.
INC members started gathering on Thursday in front of the Department of Justice office in Manila to denounce Justice Secretary Leila de Lima for supposedly giving undue attention on a criminal complaint filed by the expelled member, an former minister.
The protesters then marched to Edsa and gathered in front of the Edsa Shrine on Ortigas Avenue before proceeding to the corner of Edsa and Shaw Boulevard.
The gathering, described by INC leaders as a “peaceful assembly,” however, created traffic jams and gridlock that inconvenienced motorists and commuters from Friday to Sunday.
On Monday morning, INC leaders called off the protest and asked their members to go home.
Binay, who has declared intention to seek the presidency next year, belied claims that his statements in favor of the INC were made to maintain the support of the sect known to vote as a bloc during elections.
Binay toured the Paombong public market on Monday morning and interacted with vendors and market goers.
In his next stop in Barangay Malumot, Binay distributed wall clocks to village leaders and joined them in a boodle fight. The Vice President’s photograph was featured on the wall clocks.
Binay was joined by actress Alma Moreno and Princess Jacel Kiram, two prospective senatorial candidates of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), and San Miguel (Bulacan) Mayor Roderick Tiongson. Carmela Reyes-Estrope/CB
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