Crusade vs pork

CEBU, Philippines - “Stand up. Sign up!”

So shouted a room full of participants for the People’s Congress held yesterday in Cebu aimed to totally abolish discretionary funds in government.

Mariner’s Court at Pier 1, Cebu City, hosted around 1,000 participants at the congress discussing in detail the People’s Initiative against pork barrel. Organizers initially expected 500 delegates.

The congress preceded the official launching of the nationwide signature campaign to fuel the People’s Initiative bill.

Sister Mary John Mananza of the Order of Saint Benedict led the unity statement declaration while participants recited along while reading the text flashed at the projector.

“Our elected officials have not only failed to promote the people’s interests, they have betrayed the public trust by perpetuating the pork barrel system. It is time for us, the people, to take matters into our hands and abolish the pork barrel system ourselves,” the statement read.

Several religious organizations and officials, academe and other groups were also present to express support. These included the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches, National Council of Churches in the Philippines, Integrated Bar of the Philippines, San Beda College of Law, Muslim communities all over the countries, and bishops from Baguio, Bacolod, Bukidnon, San Carlos, Cabancalan in Negros Occidental, Cebu and the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines through its president Archbishop Socrates Villegas.

“We therefore fully endorse the people’s initiative aimed at legislating the proscription of funds made available to officials and subject to their discretion alone. We likewise look with displeasure at the practice of classifying as ‘intelligence funds’ — and therefore beyond the scope of audit and accountability-sizable amounts of public,” read the statement of the CBCP head.

Host archdiocese leader Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma also spoke in front of People’s Congress participants.

“In July, I took the opportunity to remind my brother bishops of this congress in Cebu. I told them, ‘Why in Cebu?’  I jokingly said because Cebu is the center of the Philippines. We do not deny the influence of Manila but we also claim that something good. In fact, many things are good and many more things good will come from Cebu. So today, if only for some kind of gesture, but even more so took us to start the ball rolling because many, many more will follow. Then, we’ll say that we started it in Cebu. The day after tomorrow, there will be other congress and another one and another one. And so, again, for making Cebu a place where we can start something good, thank you very much,” Palma addressed those in the gathering.

He then explained why he, a Church official, decided to take part in this political endeavor despite the separation of state and church.

“Why am I here when I am up to many activities? In fact, in this regard, I apologize to the clergy and lay, sometimes people come to my office without appointment. I cannot ask them to come back the following day especially if they come from 150 kilometers to the south or up north. I have to attend. Despite the many concerns of the Eucharistic members, I tell the priests to get involved because this too is a very, very important work of the church. I told them, that the church in the modern world, that the joys and hopes, that the cares and concerns of good peoples and also the joys and hopes and the cares and concerns of the church leaders and the church members,” he said.

National political figures also attended the historic event that will kick off a nationwide campaign.

Representing Makabayan bloc were Bayan Muna representative Neri Colmenares and his predecessor Satur Ocampo, Alliance of Concerned Teachers representative Antonio Tinio, former Kabataan representative Mong Palatino, and activist/comedienne Juana Change (Mae Paner in real life).

Stage actress Monique Wilson added color to the activity as she performed a medley of song-medley from Broadway hit “Les Miserables”.

Following the congress was the People’s Initiative signature campaign launch at the Plaza Independencia where the congress participants were joined by groups that marched from Fuente Osmeña, the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral and those who rallied in Colon Street.

The People’s Initiative launch in Cebu was a collaborative effort of nationwide coalitions like Cebu Coalition Against Pork, Scrap Pork, Abolish Pork, Epirma, among others.

People’s Initiatives campaign organizers are targeting to gather six million signatures nationwide for the complete abolition of the pork barrel fund.

 Makabayan co-chairwoman Liza Maza said that they expect finish the signature campaign by the end of the year.

Sanlakas secretary-general Aaron Pedrosa said that the six million signatures represent 10 percent of the total voting population in the country.

Representative Tinio of ACT said that despite the abolition of the pork barrel, Aquino has remained hardheaded.

“Hanggang ngayon nandiyan pa rin ang pork barrel at meron kaming mga ebidensiya na magpapatunay niyan,” he said.

ZTE-NBN scandal whistleblower Jun Lozada also attended the rally to show support of this anti-corruption campaign.

 Other groups who attended the rally included Sisters Association in Mindanao, ACT, Cebu Coalition Against Pork Barrel, Babae Laban sa Katiwalian, Piston Partylist, Abolish Pork Movement-Cebu, Health Alliance for Democracy-Cebu Chapter, Bayan Muna and the Abolish Pork Movement-Northern Mindanao, among others.

Militant groups declare “war” vs PNoy

Meanwhile, various militant groups have declared war against Aquino and his pork-riddled 2015 budget.

Sanlakas, Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino, Partido Lakas ng Masa and allied people’s organizations declared this war against Aquino during their rally in Colon Street prior to their march to Plaza Independencia for the official nationwide launching of People’s Initiative.

“If a sitting president can openly lash out and mobilize a co-equal pillar of government against another for his own self-seeking interests and is hell-bent on preserving but also extending this depraved status quo with another six-year term, then it is bound to be a dictatorship,” said Sanlakas national secretary-general Aaron Pedrosa.

Pedrosa added the people, most especially the toiling masses, will never take a dictatorship sitting down.

Meanwhile, Kabataan Partylist expressed full support for the campaign.

“As president and representative of Kabataan Partylist, I express our group’s full support for the passage of the People’s Initiative Bill that seeks to truly abolish the pork barrel system. We commit to mobilizing all of our regional chapters, and our 90-thousand strong nationwide membership towards the success of this effort,” Kabataan Partylist Terry Ridon said.

 Similar signing petitions will be held on August 25 at the Luneta Park.

Short of targeted crowd

While organizers of the event hoped to gather a crowd of 10,000 people, they fell far short of the target.

Waterfront Police Station chief Senior Inspector Wayne Magbanua said that 2,500 people were estimated to have participated in yesterday’s activity in Plaza Independencia.

Chief Inspector Enrique Belciña, Police Community Relations chief, said the situation yesterday remained normal throughout the activity.

Close to 500 people marched on the road while chanting for the ouster of Aquino.

Magbanua said the rally was generally peaceful and the crowd dispersed later in the afternoon without a problem.

“Generally peaceful sir, natapos din na walang problema,” he said.  — with Bryner L. Diaz/BRP (FREEMAN)