But analysts say the rally’s scale and timing signal the Christian church’s intent to test its political leverage at a moment of uncertainty, using the corruption scandal to assert its relevance as rival factions in government jostle for advantage.
“I’d like to give the INC the benefit of the doubt; the rally is a legitimate expression of grievances … However, the church’s call to action can indeed also be construed as a flexing of its political muscle,” Gino Trinidad, a political-science instructor at the Ateneo de Manila University, told This Week in Asia.
Founded 111 years ago, the INC claims more than 2.8 million members, a minority in a predominantly Roman Catholic country but one whose political influence vastly exceeds its size through bloc voting, in which members are instructed to follow leadership endorsements during elections.
That ability to marshal followers at scale has long made the church a coveted ally for politicians and a potent force when it chooses to bring its grievances to the streets.
