Church rally backing Philippine V-P Sara Duterte draws more than 1 million
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MANILA – More than one million people joined a rally in the Philippine capital organised by a religious group opposing moves in Congress to impeach Vice-President Sara Duterte, in what is likely a show of force to stun her critics.
Iglesia ni Cristo members, wearing white shirts, held a “rally for peace” on Jan 13 amid a deepening feud between Ms Duterte and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Some 1.5 million people filled the historic Quirino Grandstand in Manila City and nearby streets as at noon, according to the police, ahead of the 4pm programme.
The Iglesia promoted Jan 13’s demonstration, which was replicated in a handful of key provinces, as a show of support for Mr Marcos’ opposition to lawmakers’ moves to oust his deputy, even as ties between the country’s most popular political dynasties have collapsed.
The massive gathering in Manila shows how the Duterte family still holds political sway, although not as solid as when patriarch Rodrigo Duterte was in power.
A Pulse Asia survey in late 2024 showed the Vice-President getting a 50 per cent approval rating, with both her and Mr Marcos suffering declines in popularity as their feud intensified.
Content retrieved from: https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/church-rally-backing-philippine-v-p-sara-duterte-draws-more-than-1-million.
