INC Clarifies Protest Aims: Against corruption, not gov’t downfall

IGLESIA Ni Cristo (INC) officials clarified on Sunday that the three-day protest organized by the church is focused on demanding concrete actions against corruption, particularly linked to anomalous flood control projects, and is not aimed at the downfall of the government.

Bienvenido Santiago Jr., INC general evangelist, emphasized that the protest targets corrupt individuals, not the government as an institution. “We want it to be clear to everyone, we are not seeking the downfall of our government as an institution. What we want is the downfall of corruption and the promotion of an honest, pro-people government,” Santiago stated in front of an estimated 550,000 participants at the Quirino Grandstand on the first day of the rally.

Protesters wore white shirts emblazoned with “Transparency For A Better Democracy,” highlighting the words “Transparency” and “Accountability” on the back. Attendees chanted slogans including “Hustisya!”, “Ilantad!”, and “Panagutin!”

Santiago reiterated that the INC is calling for accountability, not to harm anyone’s reputation or sow chaos. He warned that failure to implement transparency, accountability, justice, and peace would further harm the economy, affecting communities and families. INC spokesperson Edwin Zabala also denounced what he described as a “cover-up” in the ongoing corruption investigation.