LIST: Iglesia ni Cristo-organized rallies through the years

LIST: Iglesia ni Cristo-organized rallies through the years

MANILA, Philippines — Even before members of the Iglesia ni Cristo converged at the Edsa People Power Monument in Quezon City on Tuesday, June 30, the religious sect had organized large-scale political events that drew national attention.

The Iglesia ni Cristo, or INC, said its gathering at the monument, where millions of people overthrew a dictator in 1986, was a protest against the possible arrest of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta.

Marcoleta is set to be charged with plunder in connection with P75 million worth of campaign donations that he did not declare in his Statement of Contributions and Expenditures.

“Senator Marcoleta led the investigation into what is believed to be one of the biggest cases of plunder in our nation’s history,” INC spokesperson Edwil Zabala said in a live broadcast on Net25.

READ: From endorsement to protest: Iglesia ni Cristo stands by Marcoleta

The INC asked why Marcoleta was the one set to be charged and threatened with imprisonment, and not those who were exposed when he was chairperson of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.

INQUIRER PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

For the religious group, “selective justice” and “distortion of law” should be rejected. It said there should be “transparency, accountability, justice and peace” in government, which, it pointed out, are the same causes Marcoleta is fighting for.

Marcoleta has alleged that the case against him, which was based on his own admission, was politically motivated. He also described the complaint lodged by the Office of the Ombudsman’s field investigation bureau as “legally insufficient.”

READ: TIMELINE: What led to Rodante Marcoleta’s plunder case

But Malacañang immediately rejected the senator’s assertion, with Palace Press Officer Claire Castro pointing out that the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had no role in the investigation by the independent constitutional office.

“Why do they keep saying they are being politically targeted just to silence them? The evidence did not come from the administration,” Castro said.

It was in November 2025 when Marcoleta admitted in a television interview that he received millions of pesos in donations for his campaign. He said the donors had one request: “Please do not disclose our identities.”

“Had I stated amounts, I would’ve been forced to name them one by one,” he said in Filipino, saying he was told that the amount was their contribution, but that it would become his “utang na loob” (debt of gratitude).

Now, as Marcoleta faces a possible arrest, the INC and its members are standing their ground in his defense, saying the group is not opposed to the enforcement of the law.

“We oppose the distortion of the law, especially if its purpose is to cover up corruption,” the INC said.

Here is a list of previous political events organized by the INC:

GRAPHIC: Ed Lustan/INQUIRER.net

2015: The religious sect took its protest to Edsa to pressure the Department of Justice to drop its investigation into the alleged kidnapping of several INC ministers.

Thousands of INC members converged outside SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City and started to march toward Shaw Boulevard. They said “walang uuwi” (nobody goes home).

READ: Iglesia Ni Cristo protesters occupy Edsa

Eventually spilling over to the southbound lane of Edsa, the protest paralyzed traffic on the opposite lane. As buses gave up on trying to make progress on the road and pulled back to take alternative routes, the protesters cheered.

Members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo rally near EDSA Shrine, Robinsons by EDSA Ortigas flyover. INQUIRER PHOTO/LYN RILLON

The Department of the Interior and Local Government said then that the rule of law must prevail as the INC pressed its allegation that Leila de Lima, who was then justice secretary, was meddling in the internal affairs of the INC.

The crowd estimate reached 20,000.

January 2025: Nearly a decade after its 2015 protest, the INC gathered its members at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila and at localized venues across the Philippines for its “National Rally for Peace.”

READ: Iglesia rally also draws thousands in the provinces

Zabala said the aim of the rally was to promote peace, which “can only be achieved if the law will be respected and implemented.” He pointed out that the INC is not against any kind of governmental process as long as it is in accordance with the law.

Members of Iglesia Ni Cristo march along Roxas Blvd. to the Quirino Granstand for the “National Rally for Peace”. INQUIRER PHOTO / MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

Back then, the INC opposed the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte in the context of Marcos’ statement that he was not in favor of removing Duterte through impeachment.

READ: INC asserts ‘peace rally’ not political

Both Marcos and Duterte were endorsed by the INC in the 2022 elections.

The event gathered a crowd of more than two million people in Manila and 12 other localized venues.

November 2025: Nearly two months after the massive protests led by the Catholic Church and civil society groups against corruption in government, especially those related to the flood control scandal and misuse of confidential funds, the INC held its “Rally for Transparency and a Better Democracy.”

It was initially set to last for three days but ended on the second day.

READ: Imee Marcos accuses President of drug use; Castro calls her desperate

“Taking into consideration the speed and extent of media coverage, both local and international, that the rally has generated, it did not need three days to achieve the goal of sending the message that we are calling for justice, accountability, transparency, and peace,” Zabala said.

Members of the religious group Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) gather at the Quirino Grandstand at the Rizal Park in Manila on Saturday, November 16, 2025 for a three-day event dubbed as “Rally for Transparency and a Better Democracy”.INQUIRER PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

It was in this public event that Sen. Imee Marcos accused her own brother of drug addiction, an allegation dismissed by Malacañang, which described the statement as a “desperate move.”

READ: INC ends supposed 3-day rally Monday, draws massive crowd at Luneta

The highest crowd estimate on the last day of the protest was recorded at 600,000. The first day drew 630,000. /dm