FILE PHOTO: Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes. INQUIRER FILES
MANILA, Philippines — Some government workers from regional offices in the country may have been required to attend Sunday’s “Bagong Pilipinas” kick-off rally, according to Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan).
Renato Reyes Jr., Bayan president, provided INQUIRER.net photos of two memoranda from two government agencies directing its staff to attend the kick-off rally at Quirino Grandstand.
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“The various agencies of [the] government are asking employees to attend,” Reyes told INQUIRER.net.
The documents were circulars from regional offices of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
One memorandum instructed the staff of a regional office to submit a list of at least 150 delegates to attend the rally.
However, none of the circulars have used the word “required.”
But in an interview over at Radyo Singko, former lawmaker Ferdinand Gaite said that he has received reports of some government workers being required to attend the kick-off rally.
“The usual parang hakot para magparami doon sa gagawin sa Quirino Grandstand. Hindi nga namin alam kung ano ito,” Gaite said.
(The usual sort of mass gathering to increase numbers for the event at Quirino Grandstand. We’re not sure what this is about.)
Inquirer.net has reached out to the Presidential Communications Office to clarify the said accusations but they are yet to respond as of posting time.
Earlier, the DILG “strongly encouraged” barangay chiefs and Sangguniang Kabataan members to attend the kick-off rally.
Videos taken at Quirino Grandstand show people arriving in marked buses from various government agencies and barangays with a “Bagong Pilipinas” banner.
READ: Marcos to attend Bagong Pilipinas rally on Sunday
Slated for Sunday afternoon, the rally is expected to be joined by “thousands of Filipinos” along with celebrities, artists, and President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. himself, according to the PCO.