The symbolic 1-million-kilometer run against the pork barrel led by activist priest Robert Reyes is gaining more support in terms of “kilometer pledges” in key towns and cities in southern Luzon.
In its fourth leg held in the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) on Friday, Reyes counted a total of 485,826 km or close to half of the campaign’s target to collect individual pledges to run or bike a distance to complete the 1-million-km target.
“A million kilometer for one person is difficult. I could be dead by then and still haven’t completed it,” he said.
Reyes said this one was symbolic in a way that people were encouraged to contribute some perspiration for national transformation—“to burn fat or should we say burn pork.”
“Pork” is the informal term used to refer to the Priority Development Assistance Fund and other discretionary funds enjoyed by senators, congressmen and women, and by the President.
Reyes, who started this particular political run in Naga City last month, asked those who joined him—bikers, runners, students, farmers and church groups—to sign a petition and make a promise to run a distance on his own, to air their frustrations over the misuse of public funds.
He said on Friday morning that four people pledged to each run 2,000 km while three others said they would run 4,000 km “until it goes down the line.”
Aside from Naga City, similar runs were earlier held in Lucena City in Quezon province and in Legazpi City in Albay province. At the UPLB, Reyes was joined by students and professional runners around the UPLB’s Freedom Park on the campus.
“This [pork barrel] issue seems overwhelming and so we found a way of keeping the fire of people’s rage in the provinces. We have this habit of waiting for Manila to organize the Million People March but while doing so, we could also take the lead in the provinces,” he said.
Reyes said a “bigger run” was slated for Nov. 25 from Los Baños town to Calamba City in Laguna province.