Organizers: More to join anti-pork rally in Makati

MANILA, Philippines - Organizers of the anti-pork barrel rally  on Friday at the business district of Makati City   said they expect more taxpayers to attend the rally following  the recent revelations about the pork barrel scam.

Junep Ocampo, former Star editor and one of the organizers of the "Ayala Tayo" rally,  said they expect more to attend this Friday's event in the wake of what Senator Jinggoy Estrada had revealed in his privilege speech on the pork scam.

"Filpinos are now more angry at what is happening. There is nothing new with these protests. But there are new revelations that now make people angry. Mas maraming taxpayers ang pupunta," said Ocampo.

Ocampo said the rally will be held in front of the statue of the late Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino at the corner of Ayala Avenue and Paseo de Roxas.

Ocampo said those attending the rally should begin assembling at around 3 p.m. He said there will be informal small group gatherings between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.

"We want to give all groups the chance to gather. Like what we did in "Sa EDSA Tayo" and at the "Luneta Tayo", we will all be learning and praying," he said.

"This will be a sharing of experiences on the pork barrel," he added.

Ocampo said that while they are gunning for one million people to attend the rally, the number of attendees is not important.

"It is just perception. We are not after the numbers. It is a gathering...an occasion where Pinoys can express their outrage against the pork barrel," he said.

Ocampo said they have secured a permit from the Makati City to occupy both lanes of Paseo de Roxas from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.

As for the expected traffic jam the event is expected to cause, Ocampo said it is just a matter of managing it.

"The traffic along Paseo de Roxas is typically heavy on a Friday night, even without a rally. It is just a matter of managing it," he said.

Meanwhile, Ocampo said the Senate should vote on whether or not to subpoena businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles to attend the hearing of the Blue Ribbon Committee on the pork barrel scam.

Ocampo said the decision of Senate President Franklin Drilon  to decline to subpoena Napoles is Drilon's and not of the whole Senate's.

"It is only Drilon who does not want her to appear before the committee. If the Senate really does not want her to appear, then the senators should put it to a vote. It is Drilon's duty as Senate president to put it to a vote," he said.

"The Senate president cannot claim that his position is also the position of the Senate," Ocampo added.