Promised cash gift draws 30,000 to Rizal Park

Thousands of people gathered at Rizal Park starting midnight Saturday hoping to get cash gifts supposedly promised by a firm linked to former First Lady Imelda Marcos.

However, the hopes of the 30,000 people who showed up at the Quirino Grandstand were dashed since no representative of the firm showed up to give out cash gifts by yesterday morning.

Police officers said the people, mostly residents of nearby slum areas in Manila, were informed that Marcos’ firm would distribute cash ranging from P50,000 to P100,000 to each person who falls in line at Rizal Park.

Investigators from the Manila Police District’s General Assignments Section have started a probe to find the source of the information, which reportedly spread through text messages.

After the people waiting for cash gifts voluntarily dispersed, another 1,500 people – devotees of the Blessed Virgin Mary – gathered in the same area yesterday afternoon to hold a Marian celebration.  – Edu Punay