Conspiracy theories have been rife previous to the three-day (diminished to 2 days) Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) rally for transparency and accountability which began on Sunday, November 16.
Some speculated that it might find yourself just like the four-day EDSA Folks Energy revolution in 1986: what began as a civilian rebellion led to reformist soliders withdrawing help for the dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos, ultimately inflicting his downfall.
Within the lead as much as Sunday, there was speak that tens of millions of pesos have been allegedly handed down by unknown politicians, however the allegations couldn’t be independently verified. However what was evident was free bottled water and meals (nutribun from Senator Imee Marcos and lugaw or rice porridge from former Ilocos Sur governor Chavit Singson).
Fears of a destabilization transfer this time prompted the Catholic Church, enterprise leaders, ex-government officers, and plenty of civil society teams, in a sequence of statements, to talk up for democracy.
What contributed to this hypothesis was the separate protest exercise of the United Folks’s Initiative, composed of retired navy generals, on the Folks Energy Monument alongside EDSA. As of writing, there’s nonetheless a small protest there with Cavite Consultant Kiko Barzaga calling on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to resign.
Add to this the timing of the discharge beginning Friday, November 14, of the sequence of movies of former Ako Bicol consultant and former chair of the Home appropriations committee Zaldy Co linking former Home speaker Martin Romualdez and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to the flood management corruption scandal.
On the primary day of the INC rally, leaders of the non secular group clarified as soon as and for all the place they stand, apart from becoming a member of the entire nation within the widespread requires transparency and accountability.
INC normal evangelist Bienvenido Santiago Jr., the primary fundamental speaker on Sunday, clarified the place of the INC: they’re towards any extralegal, extra-constitutional means to deal with the corruption scandal. He even enumerated the varied situations that had been speculated — revolution, revolutionary authorities, coup d’etat, snap elections, and civilian-military junta.
“Basta ‘yung hakbang magbubunga ng karahasan at kaguluhan, hindi tayo sang-ayon diyan. Ang gusto natin, lahat ng solusyon, lahat ng hakbang, dapat sumunod sa paraang authorized at payapa,” Santiago stated.
(So long as the steps will result in violence and chaos, we’re towards it. What we would like is, all of the options, all of the steps needs to be authorized and peaceable.)
Teams with Marcos resign calls have been reportedly instructed to not be part of the INC rally on the Quirino Grandstand, together with the group at EDSA organized by retired generals. Round 300,000 have been projected to point out up on the Folks Energy Monument in Quezon Metropolis, however solely 4,000 confirmed up on Sunday and even lower than that on Monday, November 17, in keeping with the Quezon Metropolis Police District.
As of seven pm on Monday, November 17, the second and closing day of the Iglesia ni Cristo rally, the Manila Catastrophe Threat Discount and Administration Workplace estimated the Quirino Grandstand crowd to be at 600,000.
The group estimate reached as excessive as 650,000 at one level the day earlier than, on Sunday, November 16.
INC spokesman Edwil Zabala, the second fundamental speaker on the Quirino Grandstand, criticized a number of in authorities, media, legal professionals, political analysts — “supposedly clever” individuals (“matalino sana“), he stated — who linked the INC to the destabilization rumors. He didn’t title them.
Zabala stated the INC at all times reiterates in its plenty for its flock to be peaceable, noting that it even coordinates with the nationwide and native authorities in order that their actions will likely be orderly.
Zabala described the allegations linking the INC to destabilization as a baseless, “coordinated, diversionary tactic.”
“Sa panawagan na ito for transparency, hindi po natin nilalabanan ang mismong pamahalaan, ang ating nilalabanan ang kasinungalingan at kasamaan,” Zabala stated. (In our name for transparency, we aren’t preventing this authorities, what we’re preventing are the lies and evil deeds.)
Though its ministers seem to have clarified their stand, Rappler’s protection on the bottom tells a special story: the anti-Marcos sentiment is unquestionably within the air, with little distinction from the larger INC mobilization on January 13, 2025, towards the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte. (The Large Shot: Making sense of Iglesia ni Cristo’s rally for peace)
In relation to this, it’s necessary to be aware of what Santiago and Zabala stated of their speeches on Sunday. They made a transparent distinction between the “authorities as an establishment” and the federal government’s management.
“Gusto namin maliwanag sa lahat, hindi po natin hinahangad ang pagbagsak ng ating pamahalaan bilang institusyon,” shelp Santiago. (We wish to make it clear to all, we don’t want the autumn of our authorities as an establishment.)
Ditto Zabala.
“Hindi po natin layunin na pabagsakin ang gobyerno bilang establishment. Ano po ang layunin natin? Palakasin ito sa pamamagitan ng katapatan at accountability or pananagutan,” Zabala stated.
(Our goal is to not convey down the federal government as an establishment. What’s our goal? It’s to strengthen it by way of transparency and accountability.)
Which basically means, if there’s proof linking Marcos to the corruption scandal, then he needs to be made to account too. That’s as clear as day.
The President is aware of this, for certain, and has most likely tried to appease the highly effective non secular group. As of writing, on the second day of the INC rally, the Palace has changed Govt Secretary Lucas Bersamin with Finance Secretary Ralph Recto; Particular Assistant to the President for Funding and Financial Affairs Frederick Go takes over as finance secretary; and Finances Secretary Amenah Pangandaman has been fired.
So, what’s subsequent? Will there be a civilian-military rebellion quickly?
It seems the Armed Forces of the Philippines holds the important thing to what’s going to occur. If a destabilization transfer occurs, will the management be capable to maintain the road? Armed Fores of the Philippines Chief of Workers Common Romeo Brawner insists the times of navy adventurism are over.
What’s clear is, the Philippines is coming into a interval just like what then-president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo confronted after the “Whats up, Garci” election scandal. Recall her “I’m sorry” admission in June 2005, which led to a lengthy, turbulent interval marked by three failed impeachment makes an attempt, and three failed mutinies. (LOOK BACK: The ‘Whats up, Garci’ scandal)
Arroyo survived all these over a interval of 5 years till she stepped down in mid-2010 following an orderly democratic transition to “Daang Matuwid” candidate Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino III within the presidential elections. (READ: The unfinished legacy of Noynoy Aquino)
Will Marcos survive the subsequent two-and-a-half years of his time period?
Abangan. – Rappler.com
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