More than a million members of a powerful religious sect gathered in Manila on Monday ( Jan 13 ), according to police, in opposition to Vice President Sara Duterte’s election campaign.
For the “national rally for peace,” organized by the conservative Iglesia ni Cristo ( Church of Christ ), crowds flocked to Manila’s Quirino Grandstand wearing white shirts and carrying banners urging unity.
The strong religion opposes goes to oust Duterte, a former supporter of President Ferdinand Marcos, in the House of Representatives.
There are many more needs that our people have that need to be addressed. If all we see happening is conflict, these won’t been realized, said church official Edwil Zabala before the march.
Schools, government agencies and main roads were closed for the occasion, as authorities estimated 1.6 million persons had gathered at the stadium.
More than 5, 000 soldiers have been deployed, local police spokesperson Myrna Diploma told AFP.
Duterte is accused of using millions of dollars in public money to evade justice in three prosecution cases and of plotting to kill Marcos. She has denied the claims.
Marcos’s professional minister, Lucas Bersamin, described Monday’s march as “part of the national talk”.
Similar activities are scheduled at a few locations across the country, the church’s spokeswoman said.
Iglesia, which is said to have more than two million people, has a lot of fat in the Philippines because its people frequently elect candidates as wall people and are drawn to it by politicians.
In the midterm elections on May 12, the religion may determine the results of the closely contested parliamentary and regional government content.