Calls for transparency and other key moments at first day of Iglesia ni Cristo rally
On Sunday morning, the Quirino Grandstand steadily filled with members of Iglesia Ni Cristo as the first day of the religious group’s three-day rally began. Billed as a call for accountability and justice, the rally aims to demand a transparent investigation into corrupt flood control and climate projects, which have lost over a trillion pesos since 2023.
The rally saw thousands of protesters filling the open grounds as they raised banners with messages calling for immediate government action on the issue.
Key church leaders and civic advocates also took the stage, delivering speeches that underscored the urgency of restoring public trust in government systems.
How many people attended
According to the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, the number of protestors at the Quirino Grandstand reached 550,000 as of 5 p.m.
The crowd had been steadily rising throughout the morning, with the DRRM office reporting around 18,000 attendees at 9:00 a.m.
Because of the huge gathering, the Manila Police District had deployed around 3,000 personnel as early as 4:00 a.m. together with different units from the Philippine National Police, Police Regional Offices, concerned agencies, local government units, and force multipliers.
These teams were stationed in the city's major key areas such as Quirino Grandstand, United States Embassy, Ayala Bridge, Chino Roces Bridge-Mendiola, San Sebastian corner Recto Avenue, Legarda Figueras Street, Gen Solano Street corner P. Casal, Padilla Street, Arlegui Street, San Rafael Street, JP Laurel Street, Quirino Grandstand, Liwasang Bonifacio, and other places of convergence.
Celebrities and key personalities who joined the rally
Actress Gladys Reyes was among those who joined INC's anti-corruption rally.
In an Instagram story, she posted a photo of her and her fellow INC members' hands wearing a wristband with the message, "Transparency and accountability."
Television and radio journalist Anthony Taberna also made his presence felt at the rally. He was seen giving out free bread to fellow protesters and taking selfies with them during the affair.
Fellow journalist Jessica Soho also covered the event herself as she moved through the crowd and took some pictures with some of the attendees.
During the program proper, INC's General Evangelist Bienvenido Santiago stressed that the rally isn't meant to meddle with politics, but rather to highlight the need for honest leadership and the protection of public funds.
"Tayo po ay nananawagan ng transparency, accountability, justice, at peace," he said. "Kung hindi paiiralin ang [mga ito], lalong bubulusok ang ekonomiya ng bansa. At sino lang ang magdurusa? Tayo din, 'yun ating komunidad maging 'yung ating pamilya ang magdurusa."
"Dapat gawing bukas sa publiko ang mga imbestigasyon para makita ng mga taong bayan na 'yung pagsisiyasat, walang pinagtatakpan, 'yung batas ay pinaiiral at hindi binabaluktot," he added. "Dapat panagutin ang lahat ng mapatutunayang sangkot diyan sa corruption na yan. Sino man sila, ano man ang posisyon nila sa gobyerno, dapat silang panagutin."
Marcos closely monitoring the rally
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said that he is closely monitoring INC's rally, according to Presidential Communications Office Acting Secretary Dave Gomez.
"Yes, the President is monitoring today," Gomez said, per a Philippine STAR report.
It can be recalled that the religious group had formally endorsed Marcos as well as Vice President Sara Duterte during the 2022 national elections.
Hearings at the House of Representatives and the Senate revealed billions of pesos lost to corruption, which prompted the formation of the Independent Commission on Infrastructure that will specifically investigate irregularities in flood control projects in the last 10 years.
The scandal has already sparked leadership changes in both houses of Congress, with House Speaker Martin Romualdez, a cousin of Marcos Jr., tendering his resignation as an investigation got underway.
Marcos assured that there will be no happy holidays for officials involved, as he vowed jail time for them before the year ends.