Thousands of Filipinos — including Roman Catholic clergy — protested Sunday, demanding swift prosecution of top officials implicated in a massive corruption scandal involving flawed or fake flood-control projects.

Left-wing groups held a separate rally calling for implicated officials to resign immediately.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. deployed more than 17,000 police as he struggled to contain public outrage and secure key government areas.

The military rejected isolated calls for withdrawing support from Marcos, with retired and active leaders affirming their commitment to democratic stability, NPR has reported.

Protesters urged the jailing of legislators, contractors and officials tied to the scheme, as the government freezes assets and arrests public works officers linked to billions of pesos in alleged graft.