Thousands of members of a prominent Philippine religious sect converged on Manila on Tuesday, creating severe traffic disruptions across the capital as they rallied against the impending arrest of a senator aligned with the Duterte political faction.
The demonstration, which snarled rush-hour movement for kilometers, underscores the deep political mobilization capabilities of the group and the high stakes surrounding the senator's legal troubles.
The protest follows a day of smaller-scale demonstrations on Monday evening, where hundreds gathered outside the Law Office to voice opposition to institutional corruption.
Those earlier rallies were triggered by the official delivery of a scathing corruption report, which has intensified scrutiny on political figures linked to the previous administration.
The escalation from hundreds to thousands of participants signals a broadening of the movement's reach and intensity.
This political unrest unfolds against a backdrop of significant legislative and geopolitical shifts in the Philippines.