MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Raffy Tulfo called for accountability from a police officer seen in a viral video of a motorcycle rider being threatened during the Iglesia ni Cristo rally on EDSA.
Tulfo said the officer should be reprimanded, noting that he approached the rider instead of calling out the rallyists who had surrounded him.
The officer was also criticized by social media users over his handling of the incident.
“‘Yung tao, overwhelmed na siya ng mga raliyista and then, sinisigawan siya, kinuha ‘yung susi niya… Binantaan siyang papatayin,” Tulfo was quoted as saying on Thursday, July 2.
“Tapos ngayon, siya pa ‘yong pagagalitan ng pulis… I want that policeman identified and isalang siya sa retraining program,” the senator added.
Threatened
Tulfo was referring to a video of a rider who got trapped in the INC crowd on June 30 and had his vehicle key taken from him.
The rider was seen expressing frustration over the incident.
“Ano ba ‘yang pinaglalaban na ‘yan? Bakit ganito? Tao rin naman ako dito sa Pilipinas ah!” he exclaimed.
“Tao ka nga, ‘wag ka nagsasalita! Gusto mo bang mamatay?!” someone, presumably a rallyist, retorted back while gesturing with a finger.
A police officer in an athletic uniform later approached the rider and told the latter to calm himself.
“‘Wag ka masyadong ano, kuya… ‘wag ka masyado ano, kasi dito, madami dito…” the police officer said.
ALSO READ: Rider threatened, motorcycle key taken after passing through INC rally
Rally for Marcoleta
The INC is staging a rally in support of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, a fellow member, who is set to face plunder charges for undeclared election campaign donations totaling P75 million during his senatorial campaign.
State prosecutors also noted that the amount was not declared in his Statement of Liabilities, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) as of June 30, 2025.
The Ombudsman further said that the donor’s tax for the P75 million was paid only in December 2025, which prosecutors argued was belated and indicative of concealment.
The INC claims that the move against Marcoleta was connected to the senator’s stint as former Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chair, during which he led probes into the flood control scandal.
INC spokesperson Edwil Zabala said that the campaign funds linked to the senator were allegedly not public funds and that the Commission on Elections did not supposedly consider receiving such campaign donations a crime.
“Sinusuportahan ng Iglesia Ni Cristo na itinataguyod ni Senador Marcoleta dahil ito rin ang posisyon namin. Nananawagan kami para sa transparency, accountability, justice, at peace,” Zabala said before.
“Kaya, nais naming iparinig sa mga kinauukulan na kahit ipakulong nila si Sen. Marcoleta, hindi kami titigil sa paghingi ng katarungan para sa mga kababayan nating ninakawan. Gusto namin ipaalam sa kanila na isang injustice ang selective justice. At hindi kami mananahimik sa harap nitong napakalaking pagyurak sa katarungan na hinihingi ng ating mga kababayan,” he added.
The Ombudsman has denied such claims of politicking, saying it was only a genuine effort to combat corruption in the country.
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