INC ends ‘three-day’ anti-corruption rally after two days
MANILA, Philippines — Philippines-based church Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) concluded its planned three-day “anti-corruption” rally a day early, ending the protest on Monday, November 17.
INC spokesperson Edwil Zabala said the group achieved what it aimed for with the mass action ahead of schedule. The rally began on Sunday, November 16, and was initially expected to run until November 18.
“It did not need three days to achieve the goal of sending the message that we are calling for justice, accountability, transparency and peace,” Zabala told reporters Monday. He added that participants were already exhausted.
Zabala reiterated that the demonstrations were meant to be non-political and focused on calls for “transparency and accountability.”
As of 8 p.m. Monday, the Manila Police District estimated that about 550,000 people attended the protest at the Quirino Grandstand. The events on Sunday, meanwhile, was estimated to have gathered 600,000 people at its height in the late afternoon.
Imee Marcos alleges drug use by the president. While organizers insisted that the rally's aims would be non-political, the gathering took a sharp partisan turn during Monday’s program when Sen. Imee Marcos, sister of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, alleged that the president is a drug user.
“Batid ko na, na nagda-drugs siya. Nalaman ko at ng pamilya. Nalaman ng pamilya, seryoso ito,” Marcos said. (“I knew that he was using drugs. My family and I found out. The family realized that this was serious.”)
A group with political influence. INC, known for its bloc-voting power, endorsed President Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte in the 2022 elections. It also supported Sens. Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada, who have been linked to alleged irregularities involving flood-control projects.
On Sunday’s opening day, INC organizers barred supporters of former president Rodrigo Duterte from joining the rally after they arrived carrying “Marcos Resign” banners, in an effort to distance the religious group from ouster calls.
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