PNP: ‘Million People March’ vs pork generally peaceful

Photo by INQUIRER.net/Julliane Love De Jesus

MANILA, Philippines—The multi-sectoral rally for the abolition of the Priority Development Assistance Fund, or pork barrel, was generally peaceful, a Philippine National Police official said.

Chief Superintendent Marcelo Garbo Jr., National Capital Region Police Office, said no untoward incident was recorded during the “Million People March to Luneta.”

“Expected naman natin kasi ang issue was about the whole Filipino people (We already expected that because the issue here concerns the whole Filipino people),” Garbo said in a phone interview.

He earlier estimated the crowd to be around 100,000.

At the PNP National headquarters, PNP chief, Director General Alan Purisima, congratulated the convenors and organizers of the “Martsa sa Luneta” for the generally peaceful and orderly turnout.

“Although there were no acknowledged core leaders behind this activity, we are glad that our correspondence with the convenors and organizers via the social media made it possible for the PNP to coordinate security matters,” Purisima said.

PNP said other Police Regional Offices reported similar, but smaller assemblies, in at least 15 convergence places, particularly the cities of Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Bacolod, Legaspi, Naga, Baguio, Dagupan, Cagayan De Oro, Surigao, San Fernando and Olongapo.

“No untoward incident were also reported in all these events,” PNP said.