Tens of thousands of barefoot Filipino Catholics joined the annual procession of the centuries-old Jesus the Nazarene statue in Manila on Friday, with many using the gathering to express outrage over a major corruption scandal involving influential legislators.
The massive event, which organisers said could draw millions of devotees, saw the wooden statue paraded through nearly six kilometres of Manila’s congested streets. About 15,000 police officers were deployed to maintain order, with a ban on guns, alcohol, drones and backpacks, and mobile phone signals jammed along the route.
This year’s procession coincided with growing public anger over a corruption scandal that erupted last year, implicating dozens of lawmakers who allegedly received huge kickbacks from construction companies for substandard or non-existent flood control projects. Several government engineers and construction executives have been detained, but many Filipinos expressed frustration over delays in juring those accused.
As they marched, large numbers of worshippers chanted “jail them now, jail them now.” Bishop Rufino Sescon, during mass before the procession, criticised officials implicated in the scandal who have refused to resign. “Enough is enough. Have mercy on the people. Have some shame. Step down voluntarily in the name of mercy and love,” he said.
Devotee Venus Lopez, 62, carrying a replica of the statue, echoed the call. “I hope those corrupt government officials will go away. They don’t deserve to be seated in power,” she said, adding she would pray to the Nazarene to help banish corrupt officials.
