Padre Faura closed as SC tackles ‘pork’

MANILA, Philippines—The street leading to the Supreme Court in Manila has been closed to motorists Tuesday as protesters gather in front of the high court where an oral argument on the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) is set to start.

Manila Police District’s Traffic division said the stretch of Padre Faura from Taft Avenue was closed to traffic at around 9:30 a.m. in anticipation of protest actions in the area.

The Traffic division said the street would be reopened after the oral argument.
As of posting time, the traffic department said there were about 70 protesters already in front of the high tribunal.

Meanwhile, Renato Reyes Jr., Bagong Alyansang Makabayan secretary general, said his group welcomes the decision of the court to allow live audio stream of the proceedings.

“The public is eager to hear the arguments of the petitioners assailing pork, as well as the arguments of the Aquino government through the SolGen defending pork,” Bayan said in a text message.

Reyes said high court would be able to do something that President Benigno Aquino III failed to do if it decides to declare the pork barrel system, including presidential pork, unconstitutional.

“In the short term, the SC should not lift the TRO on PDAF and Malampaya,” Reyes said.