Various groups to mark martial law anniversary with anti-pork rallies

Renato Reyes Jr. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Various groups calling for the abolition of the Priority Development Assistance Fund, or pork barrel, are gearing up for another mass action on Saturday,  the martial law anniversary.

The protest action, dubbed “Level Up,” is the fourth in the series of rallies organized by various groups since the “Million People March to Luneta” rally last month.

In a statement Thursday, Renato Reyes Jr., Bagong Alyansang Makabayan secretary general, said groups such as the Concerned Citizens Movement, Ecumenical Bishops Forum, Pagbabago, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption, Movement Against Dynasties, Artista Kontra Kurapsyon, Babae Laban sa Katiwalian, TEACH vs Pork are expected to join the Saturday protest at the Luneta Park and Chino Roces Bridge (formerly Mendiola).

The program will kick off at the Luneta Park at 9 a.m. followed by a parade to Mendiola by noon time where 10-year old Justine Flores will talk about the pork barrel system which, according to her, is “maliwanag pa sa bumbunan ni [President Benigno] Aquino [III].”

Some priests are also supporting the event.

“These activities serve to remind us of the plunder and repression under martial law and the people’s resolute resistance against it. This remains true and significant as the corrupt system in government continues with the bloated presidential pork and the worsening poverty of the masses,” Fr. Joe Dizon, also a speaker during last week’s event said.

For his part, artist Monet Silvestre said the problem on corruption persists even decades after EDSA 1 and the end of the Marcos dictatorship. Silvestre is said to be one of the persons who first posted the call for a Million People March versus the pork barrel system.

“They didn’t abolish the pork barrel system. They just changed the name. Let’s make noise on September 20 and then level up on September 21. Let’s level up our commitment to the people,” Mae Paner, also known as “Juana Change”, meanwhile said.

During the previous anti-pork barrel rallies, participants from all walks of life, including students, join the mass call to abolish the pork barrel system.