Massive protest in Manila, following a corruption scandal related to flood control projects

Approximately 550,000 people gathered on Sunday in Manila for a three-day protest, demanding accountability following a corruption scandal involving high-ranking government officials. The organizers, an independent Christian church, stated that the protest is not a political intervention, but a call for truth after more than 100 days of unaddressed irregularities. The scandal focuses on flood control projects, which have proven to be substandard or nonexistent, and private contractors are accused of having pocketed funds through phantom projects. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has promised that those involved will be held accountable, mentioning that an investigative committee has already filed criminal complaints against 37 suspects. Protests have intensified after the scandal was revealed in the president's annual address in July, following devastating floods.