Demonstrators in the capital’s Luneta Park, a short distance from the presidential palace, were seen holding crocodile-shaped signs calling for an end to systemic corruption.

“There are people who died because of the corruption that is happening,” 20-year-old drag performer Jessie Wanaluvmi J told AFP news agency before her scheduled performance.

The Philippines has a long history of scandals involving public funds, and since July, when the issue of the scandal was first raised by Marcos, at least seven public works officers have been jailed for illegal use of public funds and other graft charges in one flood control project anomaly alone.