MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. cancelled his planned public engagements on Tuesday, June 30, after members of the Iglesia ni Cristo staged a protest in Quezon City over the possible filing of plunder charges against Senator Rodante Marcoleta, one of its members.

Marcos was scheduled to lead the inauguration of a marine litter management event in Manila Bay in the port area of the Philippine capital. He was also due at a presidential luncheon with the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines at noon.

He is still expected to proceed with at least one other planned event on Tuesday inside Malacañang Palace.

Malacañang said Marcos was “monitoring” the situation along EDSA, where protesters gathered near the EDSA People Power Monument in White Plains, Quezon City.

In a statement, Undersecretary Claire Castro said Marcos was concerned about the commuters affected by the protest.

“Patuloy na inaalam ang nangyayari sa mga kababayan natin na naantala sa paglalakbay at pagtatrabaho dahil sa nangyayari sa EDSA. Minomotor din niya ang kapakanan ng ibang kababayan na naiipit sa gitna ng EDSA pati na rin ang pagsasagawa ng mga kapulisan ng kanilang mandato na magbigay proteksyon at seguridad sa mga inosente nating kababayan,” she said.

([The President] is getting more information about the welfare of Filipinos whose commute and work were disrupted by the events along EDSA. He is also monitoring the welfare of Filipinos stuck in traffic, as well as how police are performing their mandate to protect and secure innocent Filipinos.)

Members of the INC had massed in White Plains to protest the possible filing of a plunder complaint against Marcoleta by the Office of the Ombudsman.

The Ombudsman, in May, confirmed that a complaint was pending before it for plunder and receiving gifts under Presidential Decree No. 46 over questions on his campaign donations.

The anti-graft court, the Sandiganbayan, has also approved the Office of the Ombudsman’s request for a precautionary hold departure order (PHDO) against the first-time senator over the pending plunder complaint.

On June 29, Ombudsman Crispin Remulla said a case would be filed against Marcoleta soon.

Marcoleta, a veteran in the House of Representatives as a party-list representative, was elected senator in the 2025 elections. He placed sixth out of 12 in the midterm race. He belongs to the Senate minority, a bloc associated with the Duterte clan and Vice President Sara Duterte, the erstwhile ally of Marcos. – Rappler.com