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15h ago

Black Nazarene Procession Draws Massive Crowds in Manila as Devotees Demand Action on Flood-Control Scandal

Clergy urged officials linked to alleged ghost flood projects to step down, echoing chants from worshippers calling for arrests.

Catholic devotees walk beside a glass-covered carriage carrying the image of Jesus Nazareno during its annual procession in Manila, Philippines, on its feast day, Friday Jan. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Catholic devotees raise their hands as a carriage carrying the image of Jesus Nazareno passes by during its annual procession in Manila, Philippines, on its feast day Friday Jan. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Catholic devotees walk beside a glass-covered carriage carrying the image of Jesus Nazareno during its annual procession in Manila, Philippines on its feast day on Friday Jan. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Catholic devotees raise their hands and wave white towels as a carriage carrying the image of Jesus Nazareno passes by during its annual procession in Manila, Philippines, on its feast day Friday Jan. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Overview

  • Organizers counted about 439,000 participants by 8 a.m. local time, with the mayor saying turnout could reach into the millions over the day.
  • Authorities deployed roughly 15,000 police and enforced a gun and liquor ban, prohibited drones and backpacks, jammed cellphone signals, and set up first-aid tents along the route.
  • Large groups of worshippers chanted “jail them now” over the corruption scandal as Bishop Rufino Sescon used his homily to call for implicated officials to resign.
  • The case involves alleged ghost or substandard flood-control projects that implicated numerous lawmakers and officials; several engineers and construction executives are detained and on trial after televised inquiries.
  • Devotees scrambled to touch or wipe the life-size statue during the nearly six-kilometer procession that winds through congested streets near the presidential palace.