Occidental Mindoro Governor Eduardo Gadiano led a major peace conference Friday, calling for national unity and expressing support for the upcoming Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) peace rally amid impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte.

The “Occidental Mindoro Calls for Peace and Unity” conference, held at the Seasons Event Center in San Jose, saw local officials backing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s position against the three impeachment complaints filed against the Vice President.

“Unity is the key to building a strong community. Despite our differences, we are all bound by one thing – the desire for a better life for all,” Gadiano told reporters at the press conference.

The provincial officials voiced support for Monday’s (January 13, 2025) INC peace rally at the Quirino Grandstand, expected to draw over one million church members.

The massive gathering has prompted some schools, including campuses in Intramuros and Makati, to shift to online classes on January 13.

Rizal town mayor Sonny Pablo, who heads the League of Municipalities of the Philippines-Occidental Mindoro chapter, expressed, “All leaders of Occidental Mindoro are here calling for peace and unity. We hope this serves as an example not just for the entire province but for the whole country.”

The gathering of Mindoreño leaders in San Jose addressed security concerns, with Gadiano, who chairs the Regional Peace and Order Council, citing government reintegration programs for former New People’s Army members.

Occidental Mindoro officials argued that the impeachment proceedings, though constitutionally permitted, could negatively impact the country’s economy and international image.

The officials urged national legislators focusing on crucial issues such as employment, education, poverty, healthcare, and agriculture instead.

The conference drew nine out of eleven municipal mayors from the province, along with Occidental Mindoro Congressman Odie Tarriela and other local officials, and was covered by major national and local media outlets.

Meanwhile, SAGIP Partylist Representative Rodante Marcoleta has warned groups planning to join the INC rally with different agendas, stressing that “this is a peace rally initiated by the church.”