Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – A day after thousands of people gathered at Rizal Park to protest the pork barrel system, Malacañang said President Benigno Aquino III still enjoys support from a majority of Filipinos.
“Sa nakikikita nating constant monitoring, malaki naman ang kalamangan ng sumusuporta sa Pangulo lalo na pagkapahayag n’ya ng Sona (State of the Nation Address),” Communications Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. said during a press briefing.
(Our constant monitoring would show that more people still support the President, especially after he gave his Sona.)
Asked about the allegedly low turnout at the Abolish Pork Movement’s protest last Tuesday compared to the Million People March last year, Coloma said they believe that it was because many Filipinos recognize the efforts of the administration.
Coloma added that the organizers of the rally should probably study the outcome of the rally.
Although several thousands of protesters participated in Monday’s rally, reports said it fell short when compared to last year’s Million People March that drew almost 100,000 people.
“Meron ding expression kasi, ano e, di ba ’yung ‘voting with their feet,’ na siguro kung may sapat na paniniwala o paninindigan, they will vote with their feet. Dadalhin nila ‘yung sarili nila ‘dun katulad ‘nung ginawa ng mas maraming bilang katulad noong nakaraang taon,” Coloma said of the protest.
(There is the expression, ‘voting with their feet,’ which means that if they have enough conviction, they will vote with their feet. They will bring themselves there like what happened last year.)
However, he said it would be better to continue to observe since there are also various forms of expression, other than attending a protest.
He added that they also do not consider it a victory to have less people attending rallies.
Instead, it is the manifestation of reforms and the support of the people for their programs that triumph is measured, he said.
Coloma said it was important for them to see the bigger picture.
“Sa aming palagay naman sa nakaraang apat na taon—mahigit na apat na taon—ay umugat na ang maraming repormang nasimulan. Marami na ring nakapapansin ng pagbabago sa iba’t ibang larangan ng ating lipunan,” he said.
(In our opinion, during the last four years, the reforms we have started have already taken root. Many people have already noticed the transformation of the different aspects of our society.)
He explained that Aquino was not referring to any group in particular during his National Heroes Day speech on Monday where he warned the public against “fake reformers.”
He said it was a reminder instead for the people to be more vigilant and for everyone to work together and contribute to the development of the country.
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