MANILA, Philippines — A sea of predominantly barefoot Catholic devotees engulfed the streets of Manila on Friday during the annual procession of the revered Jesus the Nazarene statue, transforming one of Asia’s most significant religious gatherings into a platform for expressing public fury over an extensive corruption scandal involving influential lawmakers.
The centuries-old wooden effigy, ceremoniously placed upon a four-wheel carriage after a midnight mass attended by tens of thousands at a seaside park, embarked on its traditional 6-kilometer journey through Manila’s congested thoroughfares. Manila Mayor Isko Moreno projected participation would reach millions throughout the day and night, creating both a spiritual spectacle and a formidable security challenge for authorities.
Security forces deployed approximately 15,000 police officers supplemented by intelligence personnel to maintain order. Stringent measures included firearms and alcohol prohibitions, drone and backpack bans, and cellular signal jamming along the procession route. Medical teams from government and Red Cross agencies established first-aid stations throughout the area.
This year’s event coincided with escalating public anger regarding a corruption scandal that emerged last year, implicating numerous House and Senate members accused of receiving substantial kickbacks from construction firms. The scheme involved thousands of substandard or entirely fictitious flood control projects in a nation notoriously vulnerable to catastrophic flooding.
As devotees clad in maroon shirts jostled to touch the statue—believed to possess healing properties and the power to grant better health, employment, and prosperity—many incorporated political chants into their prayers. The rhythmic cry of “jail them now!” echoed through crowds, referencing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s unfulfilled promise to incarcerate corrupt legislators by last Christmas.
Bishop Rufino Sescon utilized his homily at Rizal Park to deliver a scathing critique of officials implicated in televised congressional hearings who have resisted resignation despite overwhelming public outrage. “Enough is enough. Have mercy on the people. Have some shame. Step down voluntarily in the name of mercy and love,” he declared.
Sixty-two-year-old devotee Venus Lopez, carrying a replica statue, articulated similar sentiments: “I hope those corrupt government officials will go away. They don’t deserve to be seated in power.”
The historical statue, adorned with thorns and bearing a cross, arrived in Manila via Spanish galleon from Mexico in 1606. Its survival of shipboard fires, earthquakes, and World War II bombings has fostered beliefs in its mystical resilience. The event exemplifies the distinctive Filipino Catholicism that blends orthodox tradition with folk superstitions, including the annual Good Friday practice of voluntary crucifixions.