Massive Protests Held in Manila; Religious Group Exposes Alleged Presidential Corruption

Photo courtesy of the Manila Public Information Office.

Massive Protests Held in Manila; Religious Group Exposes Alleged Presidential Corruption

By Bing Jabadan and Wilma N. Yamzon – TheNationWeek.Com | November 17, 2025

MANILA, Philippines – Hundreds of thousands of members of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) converged at the Quirino Grandstand, Manila, over the weekend to demand government transparency and accountability amid allegations of high-level corruption.

The “Rally for Transparency and A Better Democracy,” estimated by the Manila Police District to have drawn 650,000 attendees on its first day, underscores a boiling point of public anger over perceived government corruption.

The three-day protest, from November 16 to 18 at Quirino Grandstand, has ignited a national conversation about corruption within the Philippine government.

Demonstrators, clad in white t-shirts emblazoned with “Transparency for a Better Democracy,” are calling for “truth and accountability,” according to INC spokesperson Edwil Zabala.

The INC maintains that the rally aims to instigate reform, not destabilize the government.

Former Ako Bicol Party-list representative Zaldy Co, now a fugitive, released a video on his Facebook page on Friday, November 14, implicating President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez in “massive corruption” schemes involving infrastructure projects.

Co alleges that trillions of pesos earmarked for flood control projects were siphoned off through “ghost projects” and kickbacks.

While the Marcos administration has denied these claims, the allegations have fueled public outrage.

The timing of the protests is critical.

They follow President Marcos’s own acknowledgment of “ghost infrastructure projects” in a recent address, delivered in the wake of devastating floods that left hundreds dead and thousands homeless.

This occurred just days after Marcos pledged corruption-related arrests before Christmas.

Adding to the pressure, a concurrent protest organized by the United People’s Initiative at the People Power Monument in Quezon City is expected to draw hundreds of thousands more.

Authorities have deployed over 16,000 policemen to maintain order during the demonstrations.

Is the Philippines a Kakistocracy Ruled by Kleptocrats?

The INC’s unprecedented mobilization throws into sharp relief the accusations of “kakistocracy” and rule by “kleptocrats” that have long dogged the Philippine government.

Critics contend that the current system — an elected executive and legislative branch coupled with a presidentially appointed judiciary — is inherently vulnerable to corruption and influence peddling.

The core allegation is that elected officials often rely on the support of powerful religious groups during campaigns, securing their positions in exchange for undisclosed benefits and preferential treatment within the government. This alleged quid pro quo, critics argue, fosters a culture of corruption that undermines the principles of transparency and accountability.

Can Reform Prevail When the President is Implicated?

The central question now facing the Philippines is whether meaningful reform can be achieved when the President himself is implicated in widespread corruption.

The INC rally represents a critical juncture, a powerful expression of public discontent that demands a response.

The coming days will determine whether the Marcos administration will heed the call for transparency and accountability, or whether the allegations of corruption will continue to fester, further eroding public trust and potentially destabilizing the nation.