Anti-pork rally hit by ‘protest fatigue’

MANILA, Philippines -Organizers of the “Stand up, Sign Up Against All Pork” rally in Rizal Park, Manila yesterday appealed to the public not to get tired of fighting corruption to prevent more abuses in government.

Monette Silvestre, spokesperson for #abolishpork, said this after the low turnout at the rally.

The Manila Police District (MPD) estimated the crowd at 5,000 to 6,000 “during its peak from 11 a.m. to 12 noon.”

Citizens from various sectors joined the rally and trekked to several booths to sign the petition for a people’s initiative to abolish the pork barrel system and other schemes to maintain in the national budget lump-sum appropriations for lawmakers and executive officials.

The people’s initiative aims to collect
about five to six million signatures nationwide to demand the removal of all discretionary funds within or outside of the annual budget.

The rally also highlighted the first anniversary yesterday of the Million People March, where thousands of people gathered at Rizal Park when the pork barrel scandal first broke.

Silvestre said fewer people attended the rally yesterday after some groups, particularly those from the middle class, have been affected by “fatigue.”

He said the so-called spin doctors of the government are explioting the over fatigue factor of anti-pork barrel demonstrators.

“I’d like to pose a challenge to everyone, every party. Magpapabulag nalang ba tayo and just continue with the status quo?” Silvestre said in an interview.

“We should not get tired,” said Peachy Bretaña, a rally convenor.

Silvestre, for his part, pegged the crowd estimate at 30,000 to 40,000. They included students, cause oriented groups, members of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, leftists, religious groups, and government workers.

He said some of them just came to Luneta to affix their signature and did not stay to finish the rally. The theme of this year’s movement is Stand Up! Sign Up! Abolish All Pork.

The event started the gathering of six million signatures nationwide to enact a law, through people’s initiative, that would repeal any lump sum or pork barrel in the budget.

The figure represent 15 percent of the country’s voting population and signatories must come from the 234 legislative districts.

Initiative and referendum are provided under Article VI Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution, which states that “the legislative power shall be vested in the Congress of the Philippines which shall consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives, except to the extent reserved to the people by the provision on initiative and referendum.”

Laws enacted through people’s initiative cannot be repealed by Congress nor vetoed by the president.

Generally peaceful

Police said the anti-pork barrel rally was generally peaceful.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Carmelo Valmoria said there were no reported untoward incidents.

“The gathering was generally peaceful and orderly,” said Valmoria.

He said that they already expected a peaceful protest rally because the issue concerned the entire Filipino people.

Valmoria activated Task Force Manila Shield and deployed some 20 percent of the 18,000-strong NCRPO personnel to secure the rally site.

After a short program, the rallyists peacefully dispersed at about 12:30 p.m., said Valmoria.

Members of militant groups led by the Bagong Alyansang Makabyan and Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) later marched to the Don Chino Roces Bridge near Malacañang and held a brief program denouncing the pork barrel system and the plan to extend President Aquino’s term.

Cardinal Tagle supports rally

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle expressed his solidarity with the anti pork-barrel rallyists who gathered at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park.

In a statement, Tagle said that the people’s presence at the rally is a demonstration that democracy is still alive in the country where citizens could express freely their sentiments on national issues.

“To all who are participating in the march against pork, I extend my greetings and solidarity. Thank you for making democracy alive and active. Thank you for advancing decency in public life. Thank you for giving voice to countless victims of corruption especially the poor and marginalized,” said the Cardinal.

“I pray that God may bless our efforts to develop a culture of integrity and loving service in our families, neighborhoods, schools, offices, businesses, military, government, churches and consciences. Be assured of my prayers for you and our country,” he added.

KMU chairman Elmer Labog said the “Stand up, Sign Up vs All Pork” protest was only the start of more mass actions by workers and other sectors against the plan to extend the term of Aquino.

“KMU is looking forward to bigger mobilization as increasing number of politicians, personalities and political groups are expressing their opposition to an Aquino dictatorship,” Labog noted.

Contrary to the claim of the President’s close allies, Labog said, there is no clamor for an extension of the Aquino presidency.

“Our members are workers and urban poor and we could tell you that there’s no popular clamor for Aquino to extend his term,” Labog said.

He said the people’s clamor now is that Aquino should resign and be held accountable for the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).

The rallyists also brought an effigy of Aquino with his arms around the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, both wearing military uniforms.

Labog said the Filipino people are faced with the perpetuation of the pork barrel system and the prospect of Aquino dictatorship.

Truckers too

Meanwhile, some 100 truck operators, their employees and customs brokers were present at the anti-pork barrel rally.

Aduana Business Club (ABC) president Mary Zapata said that some of their members were at the Quirino Grandstand to demonstrate their oneness with the people. With Evelyn Macairan, Mayen Jaymalin, Edu Punay, Sheila Crisostomo