The tough-talking mayor of Davao City and considered as one of the most popular candidate for President, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte invites the powerful Iglesia ni Cristo church to hold a peaceful rally in Davao City. Mayor Duterte said on Sunday night that he will allow members of INC to hold a rally in front of the city’s Hall of Justice as long as they do not keep the public out.
In an official statement posted on the official Facebook Page of Mayor Duterte, he said will allow the rally “as long as the public is also given equal right to the court and the terminal.”
The statement of the 70-year-old Mayor of Davao City came after when Iglesia ni Cristo spokesperson Edwin Zabala said that INC members will hold separate protest actions in front of the Department of Justice’s regional offices.
The Department of Justice has Regional offices in San Fernando, La Union; Tuguegarao, Cagayan; San Fernando, Pampanga; San Pablo City, Laguna; Legazpi City, Albay; Iloilo City, Iloilo; Cebu City, Cebu; Tacloban City; Zamboanga City; Cagayan de Oro City; Davao City; SOCCSKSARGEN, Marawi City, Butuan City and Marawi City (ARMM).
Due to the announcement of the INC officials, the Davao City mayor, stated that he will talk to the army and police of his beloved city of Davao, to ensure that the INC members will have an orderly assembly.
The INC protest started in Metro Manila on Friday until Sunday night to protest what they claim is the government’s intrusion into an internal matter of the influential church, which boasts millions of members not only in the Philippines but also worldwide.