Filipino Catholics express outrage over corruption scandal during massive religious procession
AP News••world
Key Points:
- Tens of thousands of barefoot Filipino Catholics participated in the annual procession of the centuries-old Jesus the Nazarene statue in Manila, drawing millions of devotees and extensive security measures including 15,000 police officers.
- The procession, a major religious event in Asia, featured devotees seeking blessings for health and prosperity by touching or wiping the statue, while authorities imposed strict bans on guns, liquor, drones, backpacks, and jammed cellphone signals along the route.
- The event coincided with widespread public anger over a corruption scandal involving legislators accused of receiving kickbacks from construction firms linked to substandard flood control projects, prompting chants of “jail them now” from the crowd.
- Church leaders and participants condemned implicated officials for refusing to step down despite evidence and
