Another anti-‘pork’ protest today in Rizal Park

MANILA, Philippines - Two days after the inter-faith prayer vigil at the EDSA Shrine, various groups will gather again today in Rizal Park to call for the abolition of the pork barrel system.

The event will start at 3 p.m. with an ecumenical service and continue with art, music and performances, organizers of the Rock and Rage against Pork announced on its Facebook page.

Various performers, including actress Mae Paner, also known as “Juana Change,” musician Jograd de la Torre and rapper Abra, have confirmed their attendance.

Almost 1,000 people have signed up for the rally on the group’s Facebook page as of yesterday afternoon.

Another alliance – called ScrapThePork– also urged the public to make noise at noon of Sept. 20 “to register the massive call of the Filipino people to abolish presidential and congressional pork barrels.”

The event is dubbed MagIngayTayo.

“The noise that we will be creating will serve as a loud alarm and warning to the administration of President Aquino to once and for all listen to his real bosses who are the majority of the Filipino people asking for the abolition of the pork barrel,” said alliance spokesperson Mark Louie Aquino.

More than 200 people have confirmed their participation in the noise barrage, according to the group’s Facebook page.

Aquino said the noise protest would serve as a major build-up activity for another protest to be held in Rizal Park on Sept. 21.

On Wednesday, about a thousand people joined the inter-faith prayer vigil at the EDSA Shrine.

The activity fell short of expectations, considering more than 5,000 had confirmed their attendance via Facebook.

EDSA Tayo organizer Junep Ocampo said they were satisfied with the turnout. “We are not after the numbers,” he said.

Hundreds of students, faculty and staff of Ateneo de Manila University, Miriam College and University of the Philippines held a protest along Katipunan Avenue, also on Wednesday.

Dubbed Katipunan Kontra Korupsyon, the reading of the joint statement of the presidents of the three universities calling for the prudent use of government funds and an end to corruption highlighted the event.

Workers to join protest

Meanwhile, Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) chair Elmer Labog said workers from various trade unions will attend the protest in Rizal Park today to dramatize their fury over corruption in the government and the special treatment of alleged pork barrel scam operator Janet Lim-Napoles.

“We workers and taxpayers are outraged by the prevalent corruption under Aquino. This government has been extorting exorbitant taxes from our already meager wages only to feed corrupt politicians and ensure their loyalty to Aquino,” he said.

Labog said workers want the abolition of all forms of pork, including the P1.3 trillion for Aquino.

“It is disgusting how Aquino, who claims to be taking the daang matuwid, gives special treatment to someone who played a key role in a case of big-time plunder. Aquino’s anti-corruption rhetoric continues to be exposed as hypocritical,” he added.

Religious groups

Members of the Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines (AMRSP) said they would also join the rally.

In a statement, AMRSP co-executive secretary Fr. Marlon Lacal asked the public to join the mass at the San Agustin Church in Intramuros, Manila City at 2 p.m. before proceeding to Rizal Park.

“We are following with much interest the events that are unfolding now in our beloved country. Issue after issue, problems after problems preoccupied the news. In all that is going on, our prophetic responsibility compels all of us to make our voice be heard by all concerns. We cannot be idle with what is happening around us,” the AMRSP said.

The religious group said they believe the rally is one way to “pressure the government to heed the call of the people for the total abolition of the pork barrel, may it be congressional or presidential.”

United Church of Christ in the Philippines-North Luzon Bishop Elorde Sambat also encouraged Christians to action.

“We must do something to stop politicians from using bogus projects for the poor to steal public funds. Judas Iscariot was interested in the same thing during Biblical times,” he said.

The UCCP would hold an ecumenical service at the Central United Methodist Church on Kalaw Avenue at 1:30 p.m. before marching to Luneta.

No burning of effigies

Manila Police District director Chief Superintendent Isagani Grenabe Jr. said protesters would be allowed to carry placards and effigies to express their sentiments, but these should not be burned.

Genabe said the protest to be held at the Burham Green, the elevated portion of Rizal Park, is more of a prayer rally.

“Burning of effigies is not part of a religious activity,” he said.

He said rally organizers during a meeting with MPD officials yesterday agreed to limit their activity to Burham Green, and there will be no burning of effigies and that the event will be a prayer rally in the afternoon and a concert rally at night.

“After the activity, they will not go to other places (to hold protests) like the Chino Roces Bridge and US embassy,” Genabe said. The two places are common rally venues for leftists groups.

P. Burgos and Katigbak streets will be closed to traffic starting at 1 p.m. or  two hours before the protest.

Genabe said the number of policemen and the duration of road closures will be flexible, depending on the number of participants. – With Mayen Jaymalin, Aie Balagtas See, Evelyn Macairan