Jamaine Punzalan

Article (news)

Izzy Lee

Allison Co

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17828727926971782872790258.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"></span></span></span></div><p>Members of the religious group Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) stage a demonstration along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue in Quezon City, Metro Manila on June 30, 2026. Jam Sta. Rosa, AFP</p><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Wednesday said it made several attempts to tow illegally parked vehicles during <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/30/religious-group-holds-emergency-rally-at-edsa-disrupts-morning-rush-hour-0836">Tuesday&#x27;s rally at People Power Monument </a>in Quezon City but stood down to avoid escalating tensions.</p><p>The rally caused heavy traffic along EDSA and several major roads across Metro Manila.</p><p>MMDA Chairman Don Artes said the agency was following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.&#x27;s directive to exercise maximum tolerance.</p><p>&quot;Ilang beses kaming nag-attempt na mag-tow ng mga vehicles pero grabe po &#x27;yung resistance na posibleng maging resulta sa kaguluhan at mapalaban &#x27;yung ating mga kapulisan kaya minabuti po namin na mag-stand down pero di po ibig sabhin nito na wala kaming ginawa,&quot; Artes said. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/30/-biglaan-lahat-authorities-say-iglesia-ni-cristo-rally-has-no-permit-1102">&#x27;Biglaan lahat&#x27;: Authorities say Iglesia ni Cristo rally has no permit</a></div><p>Instead of towing the vehicles, the MMDA issued citation tickets through its No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP) system to all illegally parked vehicles obstructing the roads.</p><p>Artes said authorities were still consolidating the total number of violations and the unattended illegally parked vehicles carry a P2,000 fine.</p><p>According to the MMDA, the illegally parked vehicles were removed from the area Tuesday night until early Wednesday morning.</p><p>&quot;Notice po ito sa mga may dalang sasakyan dun na lang po sa designated na parking particularly sa may Temple Drive sa may likod. But definitely not sa EDSA pag kayo po ay nag-park sa EDSA titicketan po natin,&quot; he said.</p><p>The MMDA added that it coordinated with the Quezon City government to prevent the gathering from spilling further onto EDSA.</p><p>To ease traffic congestion, authorities widened the usable roadway by moving the concrete barriers separating the EDSA Bus Carousel.</p><p>&quot;Inexpand na natin &#x27;yung barrier ng bus carousel diba ordinarily isang lane lang. Ginawa na namin dalawa kahapon pero tingin namin hindi sufficient kaya inurong pa namin kanina so three lanes po yung passable dun sa area ng People Power Monument northbound and southbound,&quot; he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/30/malaca-ang-scorns-protesters-for-abuse-after-surprise-rally-causes-public-inconvenience-1630">Malacañang scorns protesters for ‘abuse’ after EDSA ‘surprise rally’ causes public inconvenience</a></div><p>Despite the adjustments, Artes said motorists should still expect heavy traffic because at least two lanes remained closed.</p><p>&quot;Sa ‘ting mga kababayang bibiyahe kung puwede pong dumaan ng EDSA ay mag-MRT na lang po at EDSA bus carousel para po mas mabilis po yung inyong mga biyahe,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;Kahapon ino-observe po namin na &#x27;yung mga umiiwas sa EDSA ay may side roads naman kaya malaki din po ang ibingat ng daloy ng traffic sa mga secondary roads so pinaki-clear po natin sa ngayon yan,&quot; he added.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gIyUHHqZYgA?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>DAY 2 OF RALLY </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Meanwhile, Quezon City Administrator Mike Alimurung defended the city&#x27;s decision to<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/30/100-000-expected-in-july-1-rally-in-quezon-city-1936"> allow another rally on Wednesday</a> despite the disruption caused by the previous day&#x27;s gathering.</p><p>&quot;Nakipag-unayan naman na ang mga grupo sa Quezon City kaya &#x27;yung Quezon City is an area where freedom of speech is respected so as long as naman nag apply ang mga tao at sumunod naman sa usapan pwede naman talagang bigyan,” he said.</p><p>“One incident should not necessarily link to another incident. Basta may coordination pwede naman talaga ang mga tao na mag-rally,&quot; he said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/1/thousands-join-day-2-of-inc-s-rally-in-edsa-0838">Thousands join day 2 of INC&#x27;s rally in EDSA </a></div><p>Thousands of demonstrators trooped to the People Power Monument unannounced before dawn Tuesday after the Ombudsman said plunder charges would be filed against Sen. Rodante Marcoleta for supposedly accepting P75 million in campaign  funds which he did not declare in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Networth.</p><p>The mass action caught many by surprise including motorists, commuters, and the police. The crowd and vehicles used by protesters caused massive traffic jams throughout the day. </p><p>While the crowd which reached around 15,000 lessened overnight, some opted to stay in the area to join day two of the protest.</p><p>Authorities report said the situation remained generally peaceful but illegally parked vehicles along EDSA and White Plains which were not included in their permit were moved.</p><p>“We&#x27;re expecting na mas magiging maayos, mapayapa yung gaganaping rally ngayong araw since nagkaroon lang po sila ng memorandum of undertaking,” Quezon City Police District Public Information Chief PMaj. Jennifer Gannaban said. </p><p>“Combined po doon yung guidelines na kailangan po nilang sabihin para po mairaos ng logtas at mapayapa itong rally na kanilang gaganapin ngayong araw,” he said. </p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1T-l0IzAo-s?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>The bus parked overnight blocking the two lanes of EDSA was removed at around 8:25 a.m. after authorities talked to the driver, hence opening three lanes for traffic. </p><p>Concrete barriers along EDSA-Ortigas near the People Power Monument were also cleared to give way to traffic which was reportedly lighter than last Tuesday’s situation.</p><p>“Of course, common sense. I-minove natin para lumuwag po yung daan. At talagang yun ang instruction po ng ating chief PNP at SILG na yung smooth flowing ng mga motorista dito sa EDSA at kung pwede ay lakihan yung puwang kung saan makakadaan,” Metro Manila police chief  PMGen. Anthony Aberin said. </p><p>Wednesday&#x27;s protest is expected to end by 8 p.m. with <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/30/100-000-expected-in-july-1-rally-in-quezon-city-1936">100,000 people expected to attend.</a></p><p>According to the Quezon City Police District, the crowd already reached 5,000 as of 7 a.m.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yN2iPMFPGBc?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ELtStPnf7RY?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Wednesday said it made several attempts to tow illegally parked vehicles during Tuesday's rally at People Power Monument in Quezon City but stood down to avoid escalating tensions.</p>

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Wednesday said it made several attempts to tow illegally parked vehicles during Tuesday's rally at People Power Monument in Quezon City but stood down to avoid escalating tensions.

MMDA says it stood down from towing illegally parked vehicles at EDSA rally to avoid escalating tension

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MMDA says it stood down from towing illegally parked vehicles at EDSA rally to avoid escalating tension

Izzy Lee,

Allison Co,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 01, 2026 10:33 AM PHT

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