THE homegrown church, Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) would hold its own rally this month, to coincide with other protest rallies being planned by other civil society groups over the issue of corruption in government.
Initially, the INC planned to hold its 3-days rally at the People Power Monument (PPM), along EDSA, Quezon City but decided to change the venue to the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.
EDSA is the country’s busiest transport artery and staging the activity at the monument is expected to cause monstrous traffic and affect businesses in Metro Manila.
The INC informed authorities that they would be mobilizing at least 300,000 daily participants during the activity that would commence from November 16 to November 18.
It can be recalled that the INC failed to influence Malacañang and Congress not to proceed with the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte after staging their mammoth, ‘Rally For Peace’ also at the Quirino Grandstand last January 13, simultaneous with similar rallies all over the country.
Other groups such as the United People’s Initiative (UPI) headed by retired Air Force Major General Romeo Poquiz had also announced another wave of protest rallies during the same period at the PPM, EDSA Shrine, Mendiola Bridge and the Batasang Pambansa Complex, the site of the House of Representatives.
The INC’s rally is also expected to serve as a “barometer” in shaping government policy and decisions this time around.
It can be recalled that the INC failed to influence Malacañang and Congress not to proceed with the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte after staging their mammoth, ‘Rally For Peace’ also at the Quirino Grandstand last January 13, simultaneous with similar rallies all over the country.
That rally was in support to President Marcos Junior’s appeal in November 2024, for Congress to drop Duterte’s impeachment, telling the public that he even “texted” lawmakers not to proceed with their plan (Pinoy Exposé, January 10, 2025).
Despite this, Congress rushed the impeachment complaint against Duterte before the 19th Congress adjourned last February with the President’s son, Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos, the first to affix his signature (Pinoy Exposé, February 7, 2025).
Last October 7, the INC, in a statement read by its spokesperson, Bro. Edwil Zabala, informed Malacañang and the public that their leadership headed by Bro. Eduardo V. Manalo, is also closely following developments in the multi-billion flood control project scandal.
Zabala said the release of the statement was authorized by Manalo.
“Ang Iglesia Ni Cristo ay payapang nagmamasid sa kasalukuyang nagaganap sa Pilipinas, kalakip ang panalangin sa Diyos na sana ang makapamayani sa ating bansa ay ang kapayapaan at katarungan,” the INC said.
It also directly put the blame on the country’s crisis into the lap of the administration, saying:
Ang mga pagtatalo-talo at pag-aalitan na ibinunga ng malaking eskandalo ng katiwalian sa libo-libong flood control project ng kasalukuyang administrasyon at mga awayang pampulitika ang dahilan ng mga kaguluhan ngayon sa ating bansa.”
It also expressed the public’s sentiment that the principals behind the plunder of the public treasury must be exposed and made to account as “it should be.”
“Gaya ng nararapat, kailangang mapanagot ang pinakaugat ng mga pagnanakaw ng daan-daang bilyong piso sa kaban ng bayan sa panahon pa naman ng paghihirap ng mamamayan.”
The INC also referenced the Senate’s decision to briefly stopped its investigation of the scandal in the aftermath of the coup that ousted the leadership of Senate President Francis Escudero last September 8 and the removal of Senator Rodante Marcoleta as chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.
The INC also assailed the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI) created by Malacañang to separately probe the scandal over its decision to hide its hearings from the public.
“Hindi rin makatutulong ang ICI sa palhim nitong pag-iimbestiga. Ano man ang maging resulta nito ay posibleng hind imaging katanggap-tanggap sa mga mamamayan at makadagdag lamang sa nagaganap na kaguluhan at kawwalang katiyakan,” the INC added.