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Iglesia Ni Cristo Peace Rally Reaches 1.5 Million Attendees

A crowd of 1.5 million appeared at the Quirino Grandstand to protest impeachment raps against Vice President Sara Duterte

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Crowd of 1.5 million gathers at Quirino Grandstand
Photo from the Manila Geographic Information System Center/Manila Public Information Office

As of 10 a.m. on Monday, January 13, the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC)’s “National Rally for Peace” has reached 1.5 million attendees, the Manila Police District (MPD) estimates. The police also expect attendance to increase throughout the day. The rally is expected to end at 6 p.m.

“Mayroon tayong estimate na 1.5 million na kababayan natin,” said MPD Deputy Director for Operations Police Colonel Emil Tumibay. “Patuloy pa itong tumataas dahil may mga dumadating pa na kababayan natin.”

According to the MPD, these attendees come from the nearby provinces of Cavite, Quezon, Zambales, Tarlac, and Nueva Ecija.

Tumibay also said that the situation at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park, Manila, has remained peaceful. No untoward incidents have been reported yet.

The 1.5 million is a sharp increase from the crowd of 701,145 that “filled up the streets of Ermita” at 9 a.m, according to the Manila Public Information Office.

In anticipation of the crowding and heavy traffic, government work and classes have been suspended in Manila, Pasay City, and Quezon City, as well as in Bacolod City and Cagayan de Oro City, where the rallies are also taking place.

People carry monobloc chairs in front of a stage at the INC peace rally in CDO
Attendees set up chairs at the National Rally for Peace in Cagayan de Oro City. Photo from the Cagayan de Oro City Information Office

‘Rally for Peace’ between Marcos and Duterte

The INC is holding the rally in protest of the impeachment raps against Vice President Sara Duterte, who currently faces three complaints due to the alleged misuse of the Office Vice President’s confidential funds.

INC spokesperson Edwil Zabala says that the religious group supports President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s stance on the impeachment, which Marcos had deemed “a storm in a teacup.” On November 29, 2024, Marcos told reporters that he told lawmakers not to file impeachment complaints against Duterte, saying that it would only “tie down” the House and Senate.

A few political figures have lauded the INC’s rally. In his Philippine Star column, Former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque wrote, “Let us give credit to Iglesia ni Cristo for leading the way towards our path of a proud, prosperous and peaceful Philippines.” Senate President Chiz Escudero called the rally a “much-needed call for peace and unity.” In the radio show Usapang Senado, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said, “If the message is ‘set aside politics and support the president’s pronouncement,’ I think many will think twice [about the impeachment], especially among local officials, because we all know that INC’s support is a very important aspect of the campaign.”

The INC is an influential religious group known for its election endorsements and bloc voting. According to a 2020 report from the Philippine Statistics Authority, there are around 2.8 million members of the INC in the Philippines.

ACT Teachers Party Representative France Castro calls the peace rally “a calculated move to protect Vice President Duterte from answering serious allegations about her misuse of confidential funds,” and pointed out that the rally comes after a Social Weather Stations (SWS) report, which said that 41 percent of Filipinos were in favor of Duterte’s impeachment.

“Ang milyong Pilipinong sumusuporta sa impeachment ay humihingi ng hustisya at pananagutan, hindi political theatrics. Walang tunay na kapayapaan kung walang hustisya,” Castro said in a statement.

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