Camille Naredo

The crowd at Luneta on the evening of November 16, 2025. Ryan Evangelista, ABS-CBN News

The crowd at Luneta on the evening of November 16, 2025.

Article (news)

Jessie Cruzat

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1763298911295viber_image_2025-11-16_20-57-50-260.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="The crowd at the Quirino Grandstand during the &quot;Rally for Transparency and A Better Democracy&quot; on the evening of November 16, 2025. Ryan Evangelista, ABS-CBN News" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The crowd at the Quirino Grandstand during the &quot;Rally for Transparency and A Better Democracy&quot; on the evening of November 16, 2025. <em>Ryan Evangelista, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — More than half a million members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) gathered at the Quirino Grandstand on Sunday, November 16, for the first day of a three-day protest dubbed the “Rally for Transparency and a Better Democracy.”</p><p>According to the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, an estimated 630,000 people had joined the mass action as of 7:00 p.m. Sunday.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/16/crowd-at-inc-quirino-grandstand-rally-swells-to-45-000-1445">READ: Crowd at INC Quirino Grandstand rally swells to over 600,000</a></div><p>In his speech, INC spokesperson Edwin Zabala clarified that the group’s protest is not a call to overthrow the government, but a push for transparency in ongoing investigations into corruption.</p><p>“Dapat lang maging bukas sa taumbayan ang mga imbestigasyon kaya ang ating pagtitipong ito ay isang mapayapang panawagan na marinig, madama ng mga nasa kapangyarihan ang tinig ng sambayanan. Ipakita ang totoo. Ilantad ang katiwalian,” Zabala said.</p><p>He added that it has become increasingly clear that a “concerted effort” is being made in current corruption probes to distort the truth and protect those who benefited most from alleged anomalies.</p><p>“Lalo pang nakababahala na kung sino pa ‘yong tumitisgo na matunton ‘yong mastermind ng korapsyon, sila pa ang iniimbistigahan. Sila pa ang nais kasuhan,” Zabala said.</p><p>“Malinaw po ang ating panawagan — ang imbestigasyon ay kailangan maging transparent at maging makatarungan upang mapanagot ang mga nagkasala sapagkat kung meron pong pagtatakip, meron pong manipulasyon. Ang batas po ay babaluktutin upang maprotektahan ang mga makapangyarihan.”</p><p>Among those who addressed the crowd was Senator Rodante Marcoleta, who expressed solidarity with the INC’s push for “transparency, accountability, and justice” in the fight against corruption in government.</p><p>Wearing white shirts printed with “Transparency for a Better Democracy,” demonstrators arrived early at the Quirino Grandstand, including Princess Samson, who came with her sibling, nephew and niece.</p><p>They set up a tent where they plan to stay throughout the three-day demonstration.</p><p>“Mula po noong inihayag sa amin ng aming tagapamahala hinanda na po namin ang sarili namin… Ginagawa namin yan hindi para sa aming sarili kundi sa aming pagiging Iglesia ni Cristo… Pagod na kami sa taas ng bilihin ang hirap mag-budget araw-araw,” said Samson.</p><p>Also among the participants were Junmar Ybañez and his wife, who traveled from San Mateo, Rizal.</p><p>They had also joined the INC’s peace rally last January 2025, also held in Luneta.</p><p>For Junmar, taking part in the gathering is a way to convey their frustrations to the government over what they see as rampant corruption.</p><p>“Sa korapsyon po na lantaran na ang pagnanakaw, kitang-kita naman po sa lahat ng hearings… lantaran na ang nakawan, ‘yong mga insertion ng budget. Sa totoo lang pagod na as a taxpayer na matahal nang nagtatrabaho sa private institution at nagbabayad ng maayos ng tax,” said Ybañez.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/11/16/palace-marcos-jr-monitoring-rallies-from-malaca-ang-1540">Palace: Marcos Jr. &#x27;monitoring&#x27; rallies from Malacañang</a></div><p>Some participants without tents improvised shelters, while others simply laid mats directly on the ground.</p><p>Moderate rains were experienced shortly after 2 p.m., but it did not deter the crowd.</p><p>Police assistance desks were stationed around the area to ensure safety and order.</p><p>Many INC members are expected to stay overnight at Luneta Park as the rally continues until November 18.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yHhZhccsFOU?&amp;pp=0gcJCQMKAYcqIYzv&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>More than half a million members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) gathered at the Quirino Grandstand on Sunday, November 16, for the first day of a three-day protest dubbed the “Rally for Transparency and a Better Democracy.”</p>

More than half a million members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) gathered at the Quirino Grandstand on Sunday, November 16, for the first day of a three-day protest dubbed the “Rally for Transparency and a Better Democracy.”

INC members pack Luneta, call for justice and gov’t transparency

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INC members pack Luneta, call for justice and gov’t transparency

Jessie Cruzat,

ABS-CBN News

Published Nov 16, 2025 09:18 PM PHT

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Updated Nov 17, 2025 01:55 AM PHT

Read More:

Iglesia ni Cristo

INC

Quirino Grandstand

Rally for Transparency and a Better Democracy

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