PDP Laban: INC rally chance to remind leaders to ‘shun’ partisan politics

The Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) over the weekend expressed its support for the Iglesia ni Cristo rally on Monday that seeks to oppose the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte.

In a statement released Sunday, the party—chaired by Duterte's father, former president Rodrugi Duterte—called on the public to join the rally, and express their support for the cause.

“We echo the call of the INC and all peace-loving Filipinos for peace and unity and ask everyone to demonstrate their sense of patriotism amid these challenging times when dark forces are out to divide us to serve their selfish and political interests,” the statement read.

“We see the INC National Peace Rally as an opportunity to remind the country’s current leaders to prioritize the welfare and interests of the masses, shun partisan political interests, and to foster unity among all Filipinos, regardless of religion, gender, age, or political beliefs,” it added.

The rally is set to be held in 13 areas across the country on Monday, January 13, with one million people expected to participate. People have already started to arrive at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila as of Sunday evening.

INC spokesperson Edwil Zabala said everyone is welcome to attend the rally, with Senators Francis Tolentino and Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa among those expected to attend.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) called on aspirants for the 2025 midterm elections to refrain from campaigning during the event.

The INC earlier said the rally for peace will be to express support for the stance of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. opposing the impeachment of Duterte.

Marcos had earlier said that impeaching Duterte would not benefit anyone.

“While the attainment of peace and unity is a long-term process, now is the time to take the necessary steps to abandon divisive and corrosive acts, and to focus all efforts to address the issues that really matter to the Filipino people like the worsening economic crisis,” the PDP-Laban said.

“Our leaders are reminded that the vast majority of the people are now facing extreme hardships in their daily lives as clearly shown by the latest Social Weather Stations survey where 63% of the Filipino people now considered themselves poor, the highest since November 2003,” it added. — BM, GMA Integrated News