MANILA, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- Around 650,000 Filipinos launched a three-day anti-corruption rally at a major urban park here on Sunday, calling for "transparency for a better democracy" amid investigations into alleged multibillion-peso anomalies in flood-control projects.

The Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said about 650,000 people gathered at the park by Sunday afternoon.

The rally demanded a thorough and transparent probe into the alleged irregular flood-control projects and accountability for officials, legislators and contractors accused of pocketing billions of pesos from real or fictitious projects.

Protester Junmar Ybanez decried the alleged misuse of public money exposed during Senate and House hearings. "I am tired of working and paying proper taxes while these officials are stealing funds," he told local media.

Meanwhile, around 2,000 people held a separate anti-corruption rally along a major highway.

Presidential Communications Office Acting Secretary Dave Gomez said Sunday that Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos has been closely monitoring the situation.

Around 16,000 policemen have been deployed to maintain order.

Sunday's gathering was the latest in a wave of anti-corruption protests in recent months. Enditem