Wearing standard white shirts for this rally, Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) members walk to Quirino Grandstand from as far as the United Nations LRT-1 station in Manila to attend the INC rally on Sunday, November 16. Many of them came from nearby provinces.

Photos by Jire Carreon/Rappler

On my way to Quirino Grandstand, I spoke to a couple wearing the standard Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) shirt for today’s rally.

They both refused to be named but freely spoke off the record as they waited below the LRT-1 UN Avenue Station.

The woman, 59 years old, avoided looking at me, but I saw tears in her eyes. “Pati tax ng anak ko ninakaw nila (They are stealing even my children’s taxes),” she said.

The man, also 59, said they are not against any specific politician. Their church’s stance is against corruption in general, he said. When I asked if they are angry at President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., he answered, “Galit kami sa magnanakaw (We are angry at thieves).”

Hailing from Batangas, they are prepared to stay until Tuesday, November 18. They have checked into a nearby hotel.

It is deeply emotional for them.

The Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office estimates the crowd at the Quirino Grandstand at 130,000 as of 3 pm.

A number of participants in the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) rally for transparency and accountability call for the resignation of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., along Taft Avenue, Manila, on Sunday, November 16, 2025.

Video courtesy of Vio Neiro M. Villaescusa/The Varsitarian

The Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office estimates the pre-event crowd at 50,000 as of 2 pm.

The rally begins at 4 pm.

The Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) is airing and showing on Sunday, November 16, on its various media platforms this rap video on the flood control corruption scandal.

Titled, “Pakinggan Niyo” (Listen), the video urges people to the open their eyes to the widespread corruption in relation to the flood control scandal, and to demand transparency and justice.

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The Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office estimates the pre-event crowd at 25,000 as of 11 am.

The INC rally begins at 4 pm.

Several leaders from the business and church sectors, ex-government officials, and budget reform advocacy groups issued a statement on Sunday, November 16, in support of democratic reforms as the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) began a three-day rally for “transparency for a better democracy.”

“In solidarity with our bishops from Catholic and evangelical churches across the country, we reaffirm our commitment to our democracy and call for action against the wanton plunder being perpetrated by both elected and appointed officials in government,” said the Roundtable for Inclusive Development in a press statement.

“We share in their message of caution for our people as selfish interests continue to tap into heightened public anger to advance political agendas that have little regard for the plight of families and communities, especially those hit by the recent spate of natural calamities, some made worse by man-made risks and government inaction,” the group added.

The Roundtable for Inclusive Development’s members include businessman and former finance secretary Ramon del Rosario, former economic planning secretary Cielito Habito, former ambassador to the US Joey Cuisia, former tourism secretary Narz Lim, former budget secretary Butch Abad, former senator Frank Drilon, Cardinal Pablo “Ambo” David, Archbishop Soc Villegas, Brother Bernard Oca, People’s Budget Coalition leader Ken Abante, among others.

They also welcomed the statement of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner reiterating the military’s commitment to the Constitution and “defending democratic institutions.”

“In times of uncertainty, the armed services’ professionalism and adherence to constitutional order are essential to preserving national stability and public trust,” the Roundtable for Inclusive Develpment said.

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Here is the livestream of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) rally on Sunday, November 16, from NET25’s YouTube channel.

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Courtesy of NET25

Attendees of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) rally begin to gather at Luneta in Manila on Sunday morning, November 16, 2025, in preparation for the three-day activity calling for “a proper and transparent” investigation into the billion-peso flood control controversy. As of late Sunday morning, the crowd is “smaller and less compact” than the INC’s rally on January 13, 2025, but “nonetheless bigger” than the Trillion Peso March on September 21, 2025, according to lawyer Emil Marañon III. Photos courtesy of Emil Marañon III