Tens of thousands of people marched in the Philippine capital, Manila, demanding the resignation of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. over a corruption scandal related to government spending on flood control infrastructure, Al Jazeera reported on Sunday.
The rally, organized by the Kilsan Bayan Kontra Krakot or People’s Movement Against Corruption (KBKK), began Sunday in Manila’s Luneta National Park, where protesters marched to the presidential palace.
Some held portraits of Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte, and depicted politicians as crocodiles and labeled them “corrupt Kodile,” while others held signs that read “Marcos resign” and “All corrupt politicians must be held accountable.”
Organizers said they estimate the audience will be more than 20,000 people.
This is the latest manifestation of public anger over the “trillion pesos” scandal in which powerful politicians, including allies of Marcos, are accused of accepting billions of pesos in bribes for flood control infrastructure contracts that ended up being defective or never built.
The massive damage caused by two recent powerful typhoons has left more than 250 people dead, spurring public anger.
Two cabinet ministers have resigned over the scandal, while Zaldi Company, a former lawmaker accused in the case, claims Mr Marcos directed him to add $1.7 billion to the budget for “questionable public works” while he was chairman of the appropriations committee.
The president denied the allegations.