Militants leave Luneta, march toward Mendiola

MANILA, Philippines–Participants who attended the “Million People March to Luneta” for the abolition of the pork barrel Monday left the park area and marched towards  Chino Roces Street (formerly Mendiola).

Several people remained at the Grandstand, but programs have already ended.

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan Secretary General Renato Reyes Jr. said they would continue their protest on Chino Roces Street.

People gather at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila where the “Million People March to Luneta” for the abolition of the pork barrel is set to be held Monday morning. INQUIRER.net Photo

Earlier Bayan and its allied groups assembled at the Liwasang Bonifacio before marching to Luneta.

The protesters pulled out at 1:45 p.m.

The group carried a banner with the hashtag #abolishpork, a reference to the online outrage that has now spilled onto the streets. The groups also demanded that the P346.8 billion presidential pork be also scrapped in favor of direct funding for social services.

“Today is National Heroes Day. We march from the Bonifacio Monument in Liwasan, to the Rizal Monument in Luneta, to the Don  Chino Roces Monument in Mendiola. No amount of deception, scare-tactics and psywar can discourage the people from coming out in their thousands all over the country to demand a deathblow to the pork barrel system. The people’s protest is directed at Aquino who has chosen to retain pork under a new name, despite the clamor for its abolition,” said Reyes said.