Supporters of Vice President Sara Duterte convened at the EDSA Shrine on Tuesday, Nov. 26, drawing a crowd of around 500 individuals, according to estimates from the Quezon City Police District (QCPD).
Supporters of Vice President Sara Duterte at the EDSA Shrine-Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace, Our Lady of EDSA on Tuesday, Nov. 26. (Screen grab from X)
The gathering came after Vice President Duterte disclosed that she had warned an individual about a plot targeting the First Couple and House Speaker Martin Romualdez, if she is killed.
Rev. Fr. Jerome Secillano, Rector of the Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace, Our Lady of EDSA, noted in a Facebook post that the turnout occurred on a regular weekday.
He also emphasized the shrine’s guidelines to preserve its sanctity as a place of worship, reminding visitors to refrain from activities such as eating, drinking, carrying slogans, shouting, vlogging, sleeping, making noise, debating, or loitering near the entrances.
The shrine's management underscored the importance of proper decorum to respect its status as a holy site and a repository of the Blessed Sacrament.
It assured the public that the shrine would remain open for prayer and devotion.
Participants at the gathering reportedly received free food packs and water.
Some attendees also prepared flowers to offer to police officers in case of dispersal.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) announced on Wednesday, Nov. 27, that it would intervene in gatherings at the EDSA Shrine only if these would disrupt traffic along Ortigas Avenue or EDSA.
“We will not allow them to occupy the entire stretch of Ortigas Avenue or EDSA as it will affect the flow of traffic. That’s the only time the PNP will intervene,” a PNP official stated.
This statement reaffirmed the PNP’s commitment to maintaining public order and safety while respecting the citizens’ rights to peaceful assembly.
Any intervention, the PNP added, would be strictly limited to addressing public safety and traffic concerns.
However, the police reported that the gathering has been generally peaceful.
Supporters of Vice President Sara Duterte stated that the three-day program will continue until Thursday, Nov. 28.