300 cops to be deployed for Makati anti-‘pork’ rally

MANILA, Philippines - The Makati City police will deploy enough personnel to secure the corner of Paseo de Roxas and Ayala Avenue where an anti-pork barrel rally will be held today.

Makati City police chief Senior Superintendent Manuel Lukban said 300 police officers will be assigned in the area to ensure that the mass action will be peaceful.

“We are ready. We will be initially deploying around 300 personnel,” he said.

Organizers of the anti-pork barrel rally earlier said that they expect more taxpayers to attend following the recent revelations in the pork barrel scam.

Junep Ocampo, one of the organizers of the “Ayala Tayo” rally, said they expect more people to attend today’s event in the wake of what Sen. Jinggoy Estrada had revealed in his privilege speech on the pork scam.

“Filipinos 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.

He said the rally would be held in front of the statue of the late Senator 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.

“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 a gathering to show an occasion where Pinoys can express their outrage against the pork barrel,” he said.