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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider INC says rally calls for solid actions vs corruption not to overthrow gov't

INC says rally calls for solid actions vs corruption not to overthrow gov't

Published Nov 17, 2025 10:27 am  |  Updated Nov 17, 2025 06:28 pm
Hundreds of thousands of INC members gathered at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila during the first day of the religious group's three-day anti-corruption rally on Sunday, Nov. 16. (Photo from MDRRMO)
Hundreds of thousands of INC members gathered at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila during the first day of the religious group's three-day anti-corruption rally on Sunday, Nov. 16. (Photo from MDRRMO)
The Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) religious group emphasized that its three-day "Rally for Transparency and a Better Democracy" aims to demand for immediate and concrete solutions from the national government to curb corruption and not to overthrow the current administration.
The officials of the INC made the statement after the first rally day at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila attended by over 630,000 participants, based on the Manila Police District's (MPD) crowd monitoring.
"Gusto naming maging maliwanag sa lahat, hindi po natin hinahangad ang pagbagsak ng ating pamahalaan bilang institusyon…Ang nais natin ay ang pagbagsak ng katiwalian. Ang nais natin ay ang pagtataguyod ng isang pamahalaang tapat at makamamamayan (We want to be clear to everyone, we do not seek the collapse of our government as an institution…What we want is the collapse of corruption. What we want is the establishment of an honest and citizen-friendly government)," INC general evangelist Bienvenido Santiago Jr. explained.
"Yung masasamang pinuno, yung mga tiwaling opisyal, yan ang dapat alisin…hindi po yung pamahalaang gumagarantiya sa kalayaan ng mga mamamayan. Kaya mga kababayan, malinaw ang ating pinaninindigan (The bad leaders, the corrupt officials, that's what needs to be removed...not the government that guarantees the freedom of the people. So, my countrymen, our stance is clear)," he added.
Santiago stressed that the three-day protest calls for transparency and accountability and not intended to sow chaos and put a color in politics.
“Nanawagan tayo sa mga nasa pamahalaan…Ayaw na natin ng mga salita at pangakong walang laman. Konkretong hakbang ang kailangan para ibangon ang dangal ng ating mahal na bansa. Hindi tayo laban sa maayos na pamahalaan, tayo ay laban sa katiwalian…Hangga’t hindi natutunton at hindi napapanagot ang mga mastermind sa korapsyon, itutuloy ang ating pagmamatsyag at pananawagan sa mapayapang paraan (We call on those in government…We no longer want empty words and promises. Concrete steps are needed to raise the dignity of our beloved country. We are not against good government, we are against corruption…As long as the masterminds of corruption are not traced and held accountable, we will continue our peaceful protest)," the evangelist noted.
Earlier on Sunday, the INC prevented a group of pro-Duterte rallyists from joining the gathering at the Quirino Grandstand because the placards they were carrying were calling for President Marcos Jr.'s resignation.
This prompted the rallyists to proceed to Liwasang Bonifacio instead to hold their own demonstration.
The religious group said their protest at the Quirino Grandstand will last until Tuesday, Nov. 18.

Related Tags

IGLESIA NI CRISTO CORRUPTION MANILA CITY QUIRINO GRANDSTAND METRO NEWS ANTI-CORRUPTION RALLY PROTEST
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