The call for transparency and accountability by protesters at the People Power Monument in Quezon City appeared to have gained more criticisms than expressions of support on social media. 

That is according to the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) which said that negative sentiments from the netizens dominated social media over the disturbance it caused to motorists and commuters on EDSA and other nearby thoroughfares.

In a statement, the CICC said it immediately monitored various social media platforms as news about the surprise rally of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) at the People Power Monument in Quezon City were reported.

The monitoring was intended to run after those who may exploit the situation to sow fake news and initiate disinformation on social media.

And according to the CICC’s Threat Monitoring Center (TMC), the majority of monitored online engagements consisted of media coverage of the protest and traffic advisories.

“This was followed by negative public sentiment over the severe traffic congestion caused by the unexpected gathering on the major thoroughfare and the subsequent road closures it triggered,” the stamen read.

The CICC, however, is yet to release data of its social media monitoring on the matter.

At least five people were arrested over attempts to deliberately block EDSA using buses and other private vehicles by the protesters.

At least three policemen were injured, one of them was almost pinned against two buses while trying to prevent them from blocking EDSA while two others were assaulted by some protesters.

The protesters’ repeated attempts to block EDSA, which started at 5 a.m. on Tuesday, June 30, and triggered confrontations later, prompted the Philippine National Police to call on the protesters to respect the rights of commuters and motorists and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to ask the INC to exercise its right to protest responsibly

On the part of the CICC, it said it will continue to monitor the situation on the ground as the protest action enters its second day, as well as the days leading to the filing of the case against one of the INC members, Sen. Rondante Marcoleta.

The Office of the Ombudsman earlier announced that it will file a plunder case against Marcoleta using his own admission on national television that he received P75 million from three campaign donors, Mike Defensor, who was also present in the INC rally.

“The CICC also urges the public to remain vigilant and immediately report any suspected disinformation related to the protest rally through Hotline 1326,” the agency said.