RENOWNED local artist and activist Nicolas Aca was briefly detained by the police for performing a solo performance show during the nationwide “Rally for Peace” by the Iglesia ni Cristo in Divisoria on Monday, January 13.

Aca, who chairs the City Government Historical Commission and has performed all over Asia, was detained by four policemen in front of the Divisoria fruit stand section, a block away from the Amphi Theater, where thousands of INC members attended their “Rally for Peace.”

Clad in chains and dirty black clothes, Aca was protesting against the INC rally Monday noon when policemen tried to arrest him.

RIGHT TO EXPRESSION. Artist and activist Nicolas Aca stages a one-man street performance highlighting the influence of religion on the country’s political landscape. Aca, who chairs the City Government Historical Commission, is known for his socially charged performances during public events. Photo by Froilan Gallardo

“The four policemen held my shoulders to stop my performance and when I asked them what law I violated, they could not give me a clear answer,” Aca said adding that the policemen released him after 15 minutes.

Aca is known for his politically sensitive one-man show during big crowd events in Cagayan de Oro.

Human rights lawyer and former member of the House of Representatives Carlos Isagani Zarate said the act of detaining Aca was a clear violation of Aca’s Bill of Rights.

“Aca was just expressing himself. The constitution protects him for that as well as it protects the rights of the INC members for expressing themselves during the rally,” Zarate said.

RALLY. Iglesia ni Cristo members sit on the pavement in Divisoria, Cagayan de Oro, using their placards as makeshift mats during a peace rally. Photo by Froilan Gallardo

Zarate said the fact that Aca was not disturbing the peace gave the policemen no right to detain him.

Thousands of INC members from five districts were brought by buses, vans and private vehicles from Camiguin, Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Note, and Bukidnon started arriving in Cagayan de Oro last Sunday, according to Ian Fuentes, Cagayan de Oro public information officer.

ALLY? A van associated with arrested pastor Apollo Quiboloy is seen parked near the Iglesia ni Cristo rally in Divisoria, Cagayan de Oro, on Monday, January 13. Photo by Froilan Gallardo

Fuentes said INC applied for a permit to hold the rally from the Amphitheater to Magsaysay Park fronting Xavier University. He said the INC members started to arrive at the rally venue at around 6 am and dispersed at around 5 pm.

RALLY. Iglesia ni Cristo members begin gathering in Divisoria, Cagayan de Oro, as early as 5 am on Monday for their nationwide peace rally. Photo by Froilan Gallardo

Mobile phone services were temporarily suspended in the entire city as the local government implemented road closures and routing schemes to avoid a traffic buildup along the Amphitheater and Magsaysay Park in Divisoria.

The INC members are supposed to place themselves in the six sections of Divisoria but five of the huge TV screens paced in strategic areas have malfunctioned by 9 am Monday.