MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang ordered government agencies on Monday morning, January 13, to respect the right of Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) protesters to mount a peaceful assembly as they hold a nationwide rally for peace.
The INC, a 110-year-old homegrown Christian church, is holding the National Rally for Peace to oppose moves to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte, which is favored by four in 10 Filipinos.
The rally is scheduled in 13 sites across the country, including the main site at Manila’s iconic Quirino Grandstand, and is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of INC members. The rally has prompted class and government work suspensions in the City of Manila, Pasay City, and Davao City.
“To peaceably assemble is a bedrock right guaranteed by our Constitution, cherished by our people, and consistently upheld by this administration,” said Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin in a statement.
“All government agencies are, therefore, ordered that this right to be exercised today by our Iglesia ni Cristo brethren should not be impaired,” he added.
He said government agencies involved in peace and order, traffic and transportation management, and emergency health services “should be ready to provide assistance whenever such is needed by their fellow citizens.”
“We view today’s assemblies as part of the national conversation we should be having as a people to bring clarity and consensus on issues that face us all and affect our future,” said Bersamin.
The rally is set to be held in the following locations:
- Manila (Quirino Grandstand)
- Vigan, Ilocos Sur
- Isabela
- Albay
- Palawan
- Cebu City
- Bacolod City
- Ormoc City, Leyte
- Iloilo City
- Davao City
- Butuan City
- Pagadian City
- Cagayan de Oro City
The INC peace rally is seen as a show of force by the 2.8-million-strong Christian church — a small minority compared with the 85.65 members of the Catholic Church — known for its bloc voting practice.
![[The Wide Shot] Making sense of Iglesia ni Cristo’s rally for peace](http://www.rappler.com/tachyon/2025/01/tl-inc-peace-rally.jpg?fit=449%2C449)
The church endorsed both Marcos and Duterte in the 2022 elections, but a months-long feud between the two politicians has put the INC in a tricky position.
The INC said it is not siding with either leader, as the peace rally is apolitical. They claimed they are “supporting” Marcos’ call against Duterte’s impeachment, which is pushed by the President’s allies in Congress. – Rappler.com
