Davao Leader Stands with Protesters Demanding Accountability
Acting Vice Mayor of Davao City, Rigo Duterte, has publicly expressed his solidarity with the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) during its "Rally for Transparency and a Better Democracy" in Manila. This show of support is particularly notable given that the influential church had previously endorsed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during the 2022 national elections.
Duterte made these remarks to reporters in Davao City on November 17, 2025, while attending the 90th anniversary celebration of the Office of the Vice President and the launch of its traveling pop-up exhibit.
Massive Turnout for Transparency
The Manila Police District reported an estimated 630,000 participants on the protest's first day. The primary demand centers on transparency regarding alleged corruption within flood-control projects, which reportedly involve senior government officials and allies of President Marcos.
Protesters and organizers allege that many of these multi-billion peso projects were either constructed with substandard materials or never built at all, leaving numerous communities dangerously vulnerable to flooding. The gathering has been emphasized as peaceful and open to all citizens advocating for government accountability, not just INC members.
Spokesperson Edwil Zabala clarified the intent of the mobilization, stating, "We are not fighting the government. It is not our aim to bring down the government as an institution. This is our exercise of our right to freely express ourselves."
Political Tensions Intensify Amid Corruption Allegations
The rally follows two destructive typhoons that claimed the lives of over 250 people, with many deaths attributed to catastrophic flooding. The public outcry for accountability has grown louder, coming just days after President Marcos himself pledged arrests in the corruption case before Christmas.
The controversy reached a new level when former Ako Bicol Representative Zaldy Co released the third part of his videotaped statement. In it, he made stunning allegations that President Marcos Jr. and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez received up to P56 billion in kickbacks from the flood-control projects. Co further claimed that Marcos was aware of these kickbacks and that Romualdez had threatened him over the matter.
Security at the Quirino Grandstand remains tight, with thousands of Philippine National Police personnel deployed. Medical services reported one attendee hospitalized for gastrointestinal bleeding, while the Philippine Red Cross treated 85 individuals for minor issues. The protest's second day is currently ongoing.
A Significant Shift in INC's Political Role
The Iglesia ni Cristo is historically known for its powerful bloc-voting system, which can deliver crucial votes from its 2.5 to 3 million members to endorsed candidates. This influence was pivotal in the 2022 presidential election when the church threw its support behind the tandem of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Sara Duterte.
By 2025, the church's strategy has visibly shifted from electoral endorsement to mass mobilization for accountability. The current rally, with an estimated 650,000 participants, is demanding answers for an alleged P118.5 billion in mismanaged flood-control funds, marking a significant moment in Philippine political engagement.
