MANILA – Thousands of individuals convened in the Philippine capital on Sunday, marking the beginning of a three-day protest orchestrated by a religious organization. This rally aims to hold accountable those involved in a corruption scandal tied to flood-control measures, implicating notable members of Congress and high-ranking government officials.

This gathering reflects growing public discontent over allegations of rampant corruption within flood-control projects—a pressing issue in a nation frequently besieged by typhoons. Recent investigations have revealed that numerous flood defense initiatives were either constructed with inferior materials or were non-existent.

The scandal involves construction firms accused of providing substantial kickbacks to influential politicians and officials. These financial incentives allegedly secured these companies lucrative contracts while shielding them from scrutiny related to project irregularities.

Authorities reported that approximately 27,000 members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo, or Church of Christ, assembled at Manila’s Rizal Park before midday. Clad mostly in white and brandishing anti-corruption banners, the crowd gathered for the afternoon protest. Meanwhile, additional groups planned a separate demonstration against corruption at the “People Power” monument in Quezon City later in the day.

The Iglesia Ni Cristo is a powerful entity known for its bloc voting during elections, making it a sought-after ally for political candidates.

The police, backed by the military, went on full alert and deployed thousands of personnel to secure the weekend rally, although the government expects the weekend rallies to be peaceful, according to a confidential security assessment seen by The Associated Press.

During a Sept. 21 anti-corruption demonstration, a few hundred black-clad protesters threw rocks, bottles and firebombs at policemen near the presidential palace, injuring more than 100 officers. Criminal complaints have been filed against 97 protesters.

National police chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. ordered law enforcement to exercise “maximum tolerance” in Sunday’s rallies.

Flood control is an especially sensitive issue in the Philippines, one of the Asian countries most prone to deadly typhoons, flooding and extreme weather. Two typhoons left at least 259 dead this month, mostly from flash floods and landslides, as millions of others were forced to evacuate.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has been trying to quell public outrage and street protests sparked by the scandal, saying on Thursday that many of the powerful senators, members of Congress and wealthy businesspeople implicated the scandal would be in jail by Christmas.

Marcos said that an independent fact-finding commission he created has already filed criminal complaints for graft and corruption and plunder, against 37 suspects. Criminal complaints have also been filed against 86 construction company executives and nine government officials for allegedly evading nearly 9 billion pesos ($152 million) in taxes.

Among those accused are lawmakers opposed to and allied with Marcos, including former House of Representatives Speaker Martin Romualdez, the president’s cousin and a key ally; and former Senate President Chiz Escudero. Both have denied any wrongdoing.

Sen. Bong Go, a key ally of former President Rodrigo Duterte, has also been accused of involvement in corruption in flood control and other infrastructure projects. He has denied the allegations.

Duterte, a harsh Marcos critic, was detained by the International Criminal Court in the Netherlands in March for alleged crimes against humanity over his brutal anti-drugs crackdowns.

His daughter, the current vice president, said Marcos should also be held accountable and jailed for approving the 2025 national budget, which appropriated billions for flood control projects.

There have been isolated calls, including by some pro-Duterte supporters, for the military to withdraw support from Marcos, but Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. has repeatedly rejected those calls.

“With full conviction, I assure the public that the armed forces will not engage in any action that violates the Constitution. Not today, not tomorrow and certainly not under my watch,” Brawner said Friday. The military “remains steadfast in preserving peace, supporting lawful civic expression and protecting the stability and democratic institutions of the republic.”