Fourth anti-pork rally set today

MANILA, Philippines - The fourth leg of a street protest calling for the abolition of the pork barrel will kick off this morning on Roxas Boulevard.

The event was organized by various leftist and religious groups to push for their call to totally remove the various lump sum allocations in the lawmakers’ budget and for the money to be given directly to the government agencies.

The protesters, however, were disallowed from holding their protest rally at the Quirino Grandstand, which was the venue for the Million People March on Aug. 26.

“There is a prior event scheduled” at the grandstand, said Kenneth Montegrande, spokesperson of the National Park Development Committee.

The rally will last from 9 a.m. to noon.

Montegrande said the protesters have been cautioned against hanging their paraphernalia on the trees, sticking bamboo sticks into the ground and throwing cigarette butts on the park grounds.