Looking properly porcine, young activists push for the abolition of the graft-swamped pork barrel during a protest rally along Taft Avenue in Manila. RICHARD A. REYES
MANILA, Philippines – Despite President Benigno Aquino III’s declaration that it was “time to abolish the pork barrel” or the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), groups advocating its scrapping vowed to hold the “Million People March” on Monday as scheduled, calling the President’s announcement as a form of “damage control” meant to pacify the protesters.
Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Zarate said that President Aquino was “reluctant” when he decided to “put an end” to the pork barrel system because he was “rattled” by the widespread public outrage.
“The people must continue their vigilance and be watchful as PDAF may [be] metamorphosed into another form,” Zarate said.
Bayan Muna Representative Neri Colmenares doubted the entire abolition of PDAF since the President, based on his speech, merely changed its name to “itemized pork barrel system” in order to retain the distribution of pork to his “allies” in the government as well as his presidential pork barrel, which reportedly totalled P1 trillion.
Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Representative Antonio Tinio said that the reformation of PDAF with a different name was a case of “same dog with a different collar.”
Tinio echoed Zarate saying that Aquino “obviously timed to take the steam out of the massive anti-pork protests” in Rizal Park.
‘Porkiest of them all’
Meanwhile, left-wing Anakbayan partylist regarded the President as the “porkiest of them all.”
“He is covering up the fact that pork barrel funds have increased under his administration and that the he has a trillion peso pork in lump sum funds. He is obviously scared of the peoples’ anger directed at him and is trying to wash his hands re the pork scam,” said the militant group in a statement to the media.
For Anakbayan, the statement of Aquino was an “obvious and desperate” move to weaken the protests demanding the prosecution of lawmakers allegedly involved in the misuse of their PDAF.
“His talk of “abolition” is double speak. He is actually securing and defending his pork and other lump sums. His presidential pork will not be touched,” it stressed.
Veering away from ‘Daang Matuwid’
“Aquino’s announcement on the pork barrel system today has “damage control” written all over it. The Filipino workers and people will not be fooled!,” Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) chairperspon Elmer Labog said in a statement.
Labog said the Aquino trademark campaign, “Sa Daang Matuwid,” was merely a slogan intended to conceal the worsening corruption in his government.
“Not only is Aquino trying to deodorize the corrupt pork barrel system and defend his huge share of pork barrel funds, he is trying to deceive the people on an issue of national importance,” added Labog.
Pork protest continues
Minutes after the President’s speech, militant groups began sending to the media one by one their vows that the “pork abolition” statement would not stop them from trooping to Luneta on Aug. 26 to bring down the “corrupt ruling set-up” under his administration.
“The people must persist in abolishing the pork barrel system. The August 26 rally [is only] an opening salvo for bigger rallies to come,” Colmenares said.
While the KMU said the Filipino people, especially the workers and taxpayers, now have more reason to take part in the “Million People March to Luneta” and the succeeding protests.
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