The Cebu Provincial Government has firmly denied any involvement in or connection to the lightning protest that called for President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to step down from office.
Scheduled Maintenance Coincides with Protest
Cebu Provincial Information Officer Ainjeliz Orong clarified that the power outage at the Capitol building on Monday evening, November 17, 2025, was unrelated to the simultaneous lighting rally where various individuals demanded PBBM's resignation.
Orong explained that turning off the lights was part of a pre-scheduled activity that included security checks and the installation of Christmas decorations around the Capitol premises.
Official Explanation of Power Interruption
"It was really just a matter of timing. The power outage Monday night was already scheduled - first, there was a security check last night where the Capitol was checking all areas, and it also coincided with the installation of Christmas lights," stated Orong on November 18, 2025.
She emphasized the scale of the lighting installation, noting that many areas around the Capitol required decoration, necessitating the power shutdown specifically for that purpose.
"The lights were turned off specifically for that timing, and it just happened that there was a rally and there were police present," Orong added.
No Prior Knowledge of Protest Activity
The Capitol official explicitly stated that the provincial government had no participation in the rally that occurred. "No, we had no connection because we also just knew about it last night," Orong further clarified.
Regarding police presence observed near the Capitol building, Orong indicated that law enforcement personnel arrived in response to the reported rally.
The lightning rally saw participation from several individuals and groups expressing their grief and anger over national turmoil, particularly corruption issues. Their primary demand centered on the president stepping down from power.
This protest in Cebu occurred alongside anti-corruption demonstrations in the capital, led by the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) group.
