Anti-pork rally in Cebu sparks another protest

CEBU, Philippines - Disgusted over what happened in the rally calling for the demolition of the pork barrel, 17 people representing different sectors held a "lightning rally" at the Fuente Osmeña rotunda last night.

Former Commissioner at-large of the National Youth Commission Mike Lopez said that they were being fooled by the organizers of the "Cebu PEACEFUL Protest against the Pork Barrel System" because they were told there would be no speeches but they selected a few to air their sentiments.

"What's the point of gathering?  We felt used that we are just warm bodies gathered so that they can have their (organizers) own show, which was very sanitized, very friendly to the president and platitude to no pork and abolish pork barrel," Lopez said.

Lopez said that they got mad because the organizers "high jacked" their intentions to fight against pork barrel and to voice their sentiments and rights.

"We don't want to fight with them. We don't want gulo but enough with the hypocrisy. Enough with the double-speak. Enough with fooling us with your empty rhetoric propagandas", Lopez said.

Lopez added that they were supposed to tackle the specifics of the pork barrel and talk about the one trillion budget, prosecuting the people involved, to demand the Commission on Audit (COA) to look into not just how the pork barrel was spent from 2007 to 2009 but also the expenditures from 2010 to 2013.

But the organizers strictly prevented them from talking about all of these during the rally.

"They (organizers) barred us from speaking. So, how do we demand for accountability? How do we demand from the president an explanation why he short fooled us that he will abolish pork barrel when in fact he's just abolishing soft components? The pork barrel will still be there," Lopez explained.

Rommel Cavada from the religious group said that they were disgusted thinking that the rally turned out to be a pro-administration activity.

"We are fooled in the sense that the original plan was no bringing of placards no speeches, but it turned out differently seeing those banners, stage and microphone," Cavada said.

Cavada reminded the people that they should be patriotic enough for the sake of the country not for any political colors or affiliation.

"Gi-ilad na ta ni Pnoy, gi-ilad pa gyod ta sa iyang mga supporters.  Nailad mi karong adlawa.  The yellow supporters high-jacked our rally.  In the next rally, they will not be able to fool us again. I dare them," Avila said.

Columnist Bobet Avila who was also in the lightning rally said that what they had last night was just the beginning of bigger rallies.  —/MBG (FREEMAN)