Transparency of loyalty
The Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) held its second rally for the year, a supposed three-day “Rally for Transparency and a Better Democracy.” Usually a demonstration of their large numbers, the rally was unexpectedly cut short a day early after Sen. Imee Marcos took to the stage and accused her brother, President Marcos, and his wife of illegal drug use, which the Palace quickly refuted. While the officials of the INC claimed that they canceled the third day merely because there was no longer any need for it, saying that their message had already been effectively delivered, the abruptness and timing after the senator’s personal attacks lead one to wonder what was truly happening behind the scenes.
On the surface, everything about this event is rife with inconsistencies. Back in January of this year alone, the INC held a rally, then called the “National Rally for Peace,” as a way of supporting President Marcos’ statement opposing the impeachment efforts against Vice President Sara Duterte. Take note that the rally centered solely on peace, not transparency or accountability. They did not address the corruption charges against the Vice President, which remain unaddressed today. Then Sagip party list Rep. and now Sen. Rodante Marcoleta said that the “INC would not take sides. The INC would like to see people like the Vice President and the President work together. That is the essence of good government.”
Ten months later, Marcoleta would make a very political speech on the first day of the INC rally, criticizing the administration for its investigation into flood control projects. Unity was no longer a word that was uttered. No more calls for the President and the Vice President to be nice to each other.
The inconsistency goes as far back as the 2022 elections, with the INC endorsing the “UniTeam” of Mr. Marcos and Duterte, with Imee Marcos then still endorsing her brother. At this point in time, both were already well-known as scions of longtime political dynasties. Both families also had violent histories, their legacies rife with charges of human rights violations. These were not enough to deter the INC from giving its powerful endorsement. Online supporters of the November rally defended the INC’s change in position in 2025, commending the religious sect for recognizing the errors of their past ways and their willingness to use their influence against corruption.
It is difficult to pinpoint the consistency of principles and values of the INC when it comes to their political actions. As a religion espousing conservative values, why give full-throttle endorsements to political families with generally disrespectful behavior to the point of cursing God, shouting profanities, and espousing violence? How come one corruption scandal gets calls for peace and unity while the other gets calls for transparency and accountability? Why does one corruption scandal get their protection and the other their condemnation?
Every recurring behavior is ultimately comprehensible. This is the law of behavior. There is always something consistent behind inconsistent behavior. What is consistent across the timeline—from the 2022 endorsement to the rallies of 2025—is their loyalty to the Vice President. Their endorsement of the UniTeam, the support against the impeachment proceedings of the Vice President, and now the concerted effort to link the flood control projects directly to the President (even as they barred groups who made explicit calls for Marcos to resign) indicate so. Even their tolerance of Imee Marcos—deigning to give her the stage despite their usual reluctance to be co-opted by politicians—was in deference to her alliance with the Vice President. (As to the important question of why exactly they are loyal to her, I leave that for political analysts to ponder, as it requires insider information that I am not privy to.)
In the first place, that INC remains a strong political force to be reckoned with is also a testament to their followers’ loyalty. Would the hundreds of thousands flock to the Quirino Grandstand if it were an anticorruption rally but not organized by the INC? If these individuals were truly consistent with their anticorruption stance, wouldn’t they have supported the numerous other rallies held this year since the flood control scandal erupted? Again, what seems to be consistent is that they are faithful to their church and trust their leaders for political direction. That is why the wooing of INC leadership by politicians—from all parties—is relentless, as can be seen by numerous billboards greeting them on their birthdays.
The rally for transparency needs to be, well, transparent about their aims. Clearly, it is not transparency against corruption, since they have been selective about which scandals deserve their spotlight. Rather, what is transparent is their show of loyalty to those who have shown loyalty to them.
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aatuazon@up.edu.ph
