Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Wednesday questioned the Iglesia ni Cristo’s protest in support of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, saying the rally’s call for transparency and accountability appeared inconsistent with the senator’s own accountability issues.
Lacson said he found it ironic that the protest action was calling for an end to selective justice while defending Marcoleta, who is facing an impending plunder case over an alleged P75-million donation made before his 2025 senatorial campaign.
“Pinaglalaban mo ang transparency and accountability, pero ang pinaglalaban mo sangkot sa accountability,” Lacson said.
The INC protest, held along EDSA near the People Power Monument in Quezon City, entered its second day Wednesday after drawing thousands of participants and causing heavy traffic in the area.
Sen. Imee Marcos, meanwhile, used her speech at the INC rally on Tuesday night to accuse the Marcos administration of ignoring corruption allegations and practicing selective justice.
Marcos criticized President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., her brother, for pushing through with his trip to Canada while Filipinos continue to face rising fuel prices, expensive food, and difficult living conditions.
“Wala silang pakialam! Gobyernong tulog, lasing sa kapangyarihan. Sadyang pipiliin pa bumiyahe, makihalubilo sa Canada, sa mga dayuhan sa Amerika, habang mga Pilipino ay nagdurusa sa gasolinang hindi abot-kaya, pagkaing ginintuan, at napakahirap na buhay,” Marcos said.
She also accused the administration of ignoring testimonies linked to alleged corruption in flood control projects, including claims made by the so-called “maleta boys.”
“Nagkukunwaring hindi nakikita ang sungbunton na ebidensiya, ang dose-dosenang testigo, ang labing-walo at higit pang Marines. Itong baha at flood control na lulunod sa ating lahat,” Marcos said.
Marcos urged the public to speak out against what she described as a justice system that treats allies and political opponents differently.
“Panahon na para maibalik ang kagalingan. Ang hustisya na hindi buktot at binabaluktot ang batas at Saligang Batas. Katarungan na pantay-pantay sa mahirap at mayaman. Katarungan na walang sino-sino, na walang pinipili na kaalyado o kalaban daw,” she said.
She said Filipinos deserve “katarungan para sa lahat,” not what she called a different standard of justice for senators and political relatives.