"John Rodgers" returned to Hollandia on 2 October to prepare for the invasion of the Philippines. She got underway for Leyte on 13 October and arrived to support landings 7 days later. Now commanded by Commander J. G. Franklin, she screened the ships carrying General Douglas MacArthur and his troops back to the Philippines. As American troops moved inland and took the airfields, she provided fire support, and patrolled the area.