Lower turnout in anti-‘pork’ rally compared to last year’s Million People March

By: Julliane Love De Jesus - 10 years ago

RYAN LEAGOGO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Amid conflicting figures given by the police and protest organizers, participants of the first anniversary of the Million People March dipped to 20,000 at most compared to last year’s mass action.

Bagong Alyansang Ma‎kabayan (Bayan) secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. said around 20,000 protesters joined ‎the multi-sectoral rally that launched the People’s Initiative signature campaign against pork barrel system in Metro Manila on Monday.

The Million People March on August 26, 2013, which also coincided with the National Heroes’ Day, had a turnout of about 85,000 to 100,000 participants.

Chief Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac, Philippine National Police (PNP) Public Information Office chief, however, said that the Rizal Park crowd swelled up to only 5,000.

But as of posting time, police said the number of rallyists “decreased to more or less 4,500” while the program and signature campaign was still ongoing.

‎Among those who joined the rally were the #abolishpork movement, the Scrap Pork Network, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), the judiciary employees, the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC), the groups under Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), LGBT groups, artists, former beauty queens, students from various schools, bishops and civil groups.

‎During the rally, several personalities, including Mae Paner, ‎a former supporter of President Benigno Aquino III, educated the participants about the initiative and at the same time, encouraged them to be counted in the campaign.

“Ballpen at pirma niyo lang ang ‎kailangan para mabago ang sistema,” Paner, dressed up as her popular character Juana Change‎, told the audience.

(All we need are your pens and signatures to change the system.)

She also recalled being a “yellow supporter” of the President and even campaigning for him before Aquino was elected as the country’s highest official.

Last August 23, anti-pork groups converged in Cebu City during the People’s Congress approving the draft bill. It was also there where the signature campaign was initially launched.