As Mamamayang Liberal Partylist Rep. Leila de Lima warned of destabilization efforts amid the three-day rally organized by the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC), Vice President Sara Duterte blasted the Marcos administration for being “paranoid.”

In a media briefing at the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) anniversary celebration in Makati City on Friday, Nov. 14, Duterte pointed out that the administration has been showing signs of paranoia for some time now.

“Ang balita ko na simula sila maging paranoid noong nagbabiyahe sila abroad. Natatakot sila na wala na silang babalikan dito sa bayan natin (According to reports I received, they started being paranoid when they were traveling abroad. They are afraid that they’ll come home to nothing here),” she said.

She cited as examples some instances that the administration has shown paranoia, such as attacking those who dare speak against the government and those who want to stand witness against administration allies.

Duterte said she won’t be attending the rallies that will start this Sunday, Nov. 16, as she has only so far graced rallies organized abroad by Filipino communities.

“Pero (But), I commit and I call on the administration, the government to respect the right of the people to freedom of speech and expression. Huwag masyado silang maging balat-sibuyas (Don’t be onion-skinned),” she asked.

De Lima herself said that the right to protest is legitimate because of the public anger over rampant corruption in government, particularly the flood control mess that triggered most of the protests being done online and on the streets.

However, the lawmaker—a staunch critic of the Duterte administration and was detained for seven years because of trumped-up charges by allies of former president Rodrigo Duterte—warned against the unusual length of the rally.

“Bakit three days (Why three days)? Because it’s really a cause for serious concern. I think credible yung mga balibalita, credible din yung mga theories. Baka nga may ibang plano (I think the reports and theories are credible. Maybe there are other plans),” she said in the INSIDERS podcast titled “May Hustisya ba sa ‘Due Process’?” hosted by Edwin Lacierda and Barry Gutierrez.

“It’s a cause for concern kasi kung (because if it is) for transparency and accountability, bakit kailangan panghiwalay sila sa mga other groups — yung mga talagang nagra-rally din calling for accountability. Galit na galit naman talaga yung taong bayan ngayon (why is it separate from other group — those really rallying for accountability. The people are really angry),” she added.

Another Trillion Peso March Movement is scheduled on Nov. 30 after a nationwide protest was conducted last Sept. 21, which was attended by some 84,000 people.

De Lima said the military must be vigilant against any attempt to use the rallies to escalate the situation.

“The military would be observing things. It’s a question of whether these forces of destabilization will be able to sustain it and how other forces would take advantage—kasi alam naman natin yan, hindi na sila makahintay for 2028 (because we all know that they cannot wait for 2028),” she stressed.

Former presidential political adviser Ronald Llamas has given his reaction to the credibility of those endorsing and supporting the rally against corruption in Manila.

In a Facebook post, Llamas stressed that supporters of plunderers and extrajudicial killing (EJK) perpetrators lack the integrity to call for accountability.

“Simple lang: Ang mga endorsers at supporters ng mga mandarambong at EJKillers ay walang integridad mag-rally laban sa korapsyon, kahit isang linggo pa iyan (Simple as this: The endorsers and supporters of plunderers and EJKillers have no integrity to rally against corruption, even it is for a week),” he said.

Llamas, a political analyst, also invoked the words of Philippine national hero Jose Rizal, emphasizing that “The glory of saving a country is not for those who have contributed to its ruin.”

He did not specify which rally, but it appeared he was apparently alluding to INC’s plan to hold a three-day rally in Rizal Park in Manila.

The INC, in a separate post, said it will gather for a Luneta rally for transparency and accountability in government on Nov. 16 to 18.

“It has been over 100 days, yet no one has been held accountable—and the call for truth, fairness, and justice grows stronger. This peaceful movement represents every Filipino who believes that genuine democracy can only thrive when leaders are transparent and prioritize the nation and its citizens,” a post on INC News and Updates Facebook page read.

“Together, we rally not for division, but for the sake of our nation’s future,” the religious group added.