Million People March 2 organizers urge public to take part in anti-pork protest
Members of the militant group Abolish Pork Movement demonstrate their disgust at the House of Representatives. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
MANILA, Philippines – Organizers of the second Million People March to be held in Ayala this Friday are urging every Filipino, whether they be abroad, in the provinces, or their homes, to bang pots and pans simultaneously so that the government may know that the people demand punishment on those who have misused the Priority Deevelopment Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel.
In a phone interview, Patricia Tan, spokesperson of the Scrap Pork Network, said the goal of Friday’s Million People March at the country’s top financial district, was to spread the call for the abolition of the pork barrel.
In this protest, groups are welcome to bring banners and streamers — a contrast from the first one in Luneta on August 26 when organizers discouraged any sign or activity that can be misconstrued as political in nature.
However, Tan said that there would be “banner-free areas” especially near the statue of Ninoy Aquino stands at the corner of Paseo de Roxas and Ayala Avenue where the anti-pork protesters are expected to converge.
Tan said that if politicians would “dare” to come, they “cannot control the crowds reaction anymore.” In the first Million People March, former Chief Justice Renato Corona was heckled by protesters.
At 7 p.m. Friday, organizers of the Million People March at Ayala will hold a candle-lighting ceremony and noise barrage dubbed as “Ingay ng Liwanag” or Noise of Enlightenment.
Before the candle ceremony, economy experts will talk about “what pork is all about” at 5:30 p.m.
Talks by former National Treasurer Leonor Briones, National Chair of the Advocates of Science and Technology for the People (AGHAM) Dr. Giovanni Tapang and activist Lidy Nakpil will detail pork barrel in the 2014 national budget.
Tan said, “we need to be informed. You cannot say you’re anti-pork and not know about it.”
The Scrap Pork network consists of the Million People March and EDSA Tayo organizers, Sanlakas, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, and US Pinoys For Good Governance among others.
Inday Espina-Varona, campaigns director at Change.org and one of the organizers, said the program aimed to ladderize and help the people situate themselves after the so-called “porkless budget.”
“[The program will answer] where are we right now? Can our budget be really porkless?,” Varona told INQUIRER.net.
Program flow
The Makati City Public Safety Department released a statement Thursday that at exactly 2 p.m. onwards Friday, Ayala Avenue and Paseo de Roxas would be closed to motorists.
Tan detailed that starting 3 p.m., performance from artists, including the 80s rock band The Jerks, will grace the first half of the Million People March at Ayala as groups march from different areas before coming together at the foot of Ninoy Aquino statue.
Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. said a huge “Golden Baboy,” which stands eight feet tall, ten feet long and four feet wide would be paraded.
Reyes told INQUIRER.net “the Golden Baboy” took on a biblical reference as a “false idol” worshipped by politicians.
Based on the organizers of the protest program, the number of participants expected to attend would be about 4,000 to 6,000.
‘Pork Barrel King’ fitting
Meanwhile, Reyes said the title “Pork Barrel King” bestowed on Aquino was “appropriate.”
“The Aquino government has not abolished pork but rather institutionalized discretionary spending in support of political patronage and control of the Legislative branch. Aquino keeps saying that he is different from GMA and therefore his use of pork is justified. But how different is he really when it comes to pork barrel spending?” he said in a statement.
Reyes lamented how the Aquino administration was no different from that of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo since pork misuse was right at the doorstep of Malacañang.
Aquino on Wednesday put back the blame to Arroyo for accumulating the P1 trillion discretionary funds to stay in power after he was assailed over the release of P1.107 billion in pork barrel to senators after the Senate convicted Chief Justice Renato Corona in May 2012.
“Pork misuse continued well into his term. Aquino can’t continue invoking Gloria Arroyo as his defense every time there is a controversy. The misuse happened during his term. He is being accused of violating the Constitution through the use of the DAP. He is being accused of using pork to advance the impeachment of the Supreme Court Chief Justice. He should be answerable to the people,” Reyes added.
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