INC rally calls for actions vs corrupt government officials

MANILA, Philippines — Despite intermittent rains, attendees continued to stream into the Quirino Grandstand grounds and surrounding areas as the three-day Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) rally started yesterday in Manila.

On its first day, the crowd, calling for transparency and accountability in government, swelled to an estimated 650,000 as of 6 p.m., according to the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

During the opening program, Bienvenido Santiago Jr., general evangelist of INC, addressed the crowd, emphasizing that the rally was not a political event but a peaceful demonstration calling for transparency, accountability and good governance.

“We want to make it clear that this is not just about politics,” Santiago said. “This is our exercise of our right to freely express ourselves. The Church of Christ joins fellow citizens concerned about corruption and flood-control projects carried out by senior government officials. We stand united with Filipinos across the country and the world in calling for transparency, accountability and peace.”

He underscored that the INC rejects all extreme or unconstitutional measures – including revolution, a revolutionary government, coup d’état, snap elections and the creation of a civilian-military junta – stressing that any actions taken must be just and in full accordance with the Constitution.

Santiago said the INC opposes any move that could lead to violence or chaos, insisting that all solutions must be pursued legally and peacefully.

He clarified that the INC does not seek the downfall of the government as an institution, but instead calls for the eradication of corruption and the establishment of a clean, honest and pro-people government, emphasizing that it is the bad leaders and corrupt officials who should be removed.

Santiago also highlighted the economic impact of corruption, pointing to halted infrastructure loans and weak investor confidence.

“South Korea’s President halted an infrastructure loan for the Philippines due to corruption concerns. At the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting, no country pledged investments. Our stock market is the world’s worst performer because of government scandals,” he said.

Santiago urged the government to take concrete action on transparency and accountability: “Investigations should be public, those proven guilty of corruption should be punished regardless of their position and stolen wealth must be returned to fund programs and services for the people.”

Duterte supporters barred from rally

While the INC rally remained the main mass action at Luneta, a separate group of supporters of the Duterte family attempted to join, but were barred by organizers for carrying banners calling for President Marcos’ resignation.

Daniel Nobleza, spokesperson for Reforma Filipina and Hakbang ng Maisug, said they respected the INC’s decision and relocated their assembly to Liwasang Bonifacio, continuing their protest and highlighting concerns over chronic flooding in Quezon City’s fifth district and other communities.

Security and crowd management

Manila Police District acting director Brig. Gen. Arnold Abad said approximately 3,000 police personnel were deployed across the city to secure the rally and manage foot and vehicular traffic. Officers were stationed at key points, including the Quirino Grandstand, Liwasang Bonifacio, the US embassy area, Ayala Bridge, Mendiola, Recto Avenue, P. Casal Street, Arlegui Street, San Rafael Street, JP Laurel Street and other convergence zones.

The deployment followed a “showdown inspection” conducted on Nov. 8 to ensure readiness, proper equipment and adherence to maximum tolerance.

Emergency and medical teams from the city government, Philippine Red Cross, volunteer fire brigades and the Manila Health Department maintained a presence around the grandstand and Kartilya ng Katipunan to respond to heat or rain-related health concerns and other emergencies.

Generally peaceful

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla yesterday said the rallies in Manila remained “generally peaceful,” as he inspected the situation in Mendiola, where INC members continued their three-day assembly calling for accountability, truth and justice.

Remulla, who was accompanied by Philippine National Police (PNP) acting chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. and National Capital Region Police Office director Maj. Gen. Anthony Aberin, told reporters that INC leaders have so far lived up to their commitment to keep the gatherings orderly.

The PNP described yesterday’s atmosphere as calm, crediting both participants and law enforcers for helping maintain peace and order.

Remulla noted that authorities have applied lessons from previous crowd-control incidents. 

He also directed the use of body-worn cameras for police personnel to strengthen transparency and avoid unfounded allegations during crowd control operations.
Asked whether he expects trouble during the INC’s three-day rally, Remulla said he does not anticipate major disruptions. 

Monitoring fake news

Meanwhile, the PNP is tapping its Anti-Cybercrime Group in undertaking intensified online monitoring of social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news during the three-day assemblies.

Nartatez said that while the PNP respects freedom of speech and the right to air grievances, these do not cover the posting of fabricated claims meant to mislead the public.

On Saturday, the PNP detected false posts alleging a crowd buildup and possible unrest in the Chino Roces Bridge area in Manila.

Such claims were repeatedly debunked by ground units.

Respect, professionalism

Nartatez yesterday reminded all police personnel to remain professional and continue with their mandate of protecting the public, at the start of the INC’s three-day rally.

A total of 16,433 police officers and support units will be deployed to two major rally sites: Rizal Park in Manila, the venue of the INC’s  “Rally for Transparency and a Better Democracy,” and the EDSA people power monument in Quezon City, where another group, the United People’s Initiative, is also staging its gathering from Nov. 16 to 18.

In Bulacan, the Bulacan Police Provincial Office conducted yesterday an accounting of its Reactionary Standby Support Force (RSSF) personnel from the Bulacan 1st and 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company in preparation for the ongoing rallies.

Col. Angel Garcillano, Bulacan police director, said the province’s RSSF personnel can be rapidly deployed in coordination with the NCRPO and other partner agencies as the need arises.

Brig. Gen. Ponce Rogelio Peñones Jr., Central Luzon police director, conducted yesterday an inter-regional coordination with Maj. Gen. Anthony Aberin, National Capital Region police director, and personally checked the Civil Disturbance Management contingent of Region 3 deployed at Ayala Bridge in Manila. 

In a Facebook post, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) announced that its personnel and assets are on full alert.  

Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan, PCG commandant, said they would continue to uphold the people’s right to peaceably assemble and exercise their freedom of expression.

AFP told: Respect the Constitution

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) appealed for calm, discipline and respect for constitutional processes.

AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said the military “remains a professional, disciplined, and non-partisan institution, unwavering in its loyalty to the Constitution, the democratic principles we are sworn to defend, and to the Filipino people we serve.”

He earlier confirmed that the AFP’s intelligence community is looking into reports on the supposed involvement of several government officials and retired military officers in destabilization plots.

The commanding officers of the Philippine Army, Philippine Navy and Philippine Air Force reiterated their mandate as a professional and non-partisan defender of the Constitution and the nation’s democratic values. — Mark Ernest Villeza, Rainier Allan Ronda, Pia Lee-Brago, Evelyn Macairan, Ramon Efren Lazaro